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We’re back for the 6th edition of Collectin’ ‘n Connectin’ Fire here on the CnC blog. Another five fresh names, heating up in the NBA and diving into their NBA Top Shot catalogs. Such an interesting list this week that I found myself putting together. A few names breaking out quicker than anticipated, a Cool Cat in more ways than one and a superstar reminding us why he was on the cusp of becoming a megastar. Sit back, pull up Top Shot after this blog and as a wise man once said, get ready to “tap that app” for some new pickups.
5. Bennedict Mathurin – Indiana Pacers: Year three of one of the old favorite breakout candidates from the 2022-2023 draft class has seen Mathurin take steps to averaging a career high 17.2 ppg and also over 6 boards per game. Currently third on the Pacers in scoring, just behind Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakim, he appears to be right on the cusp of breaking into that next tier of breaking out into an emerging star. He is averaging nearly 33 minutes a night (also a career high), so the opportunity is there and we have seen the talent getting better each year. Mathurin has highlight reel athleticism, which makes him a great fit for Top Shot. His Top Shot Debut is sitting at a criminally low floor at the moment around $6, which makes for a great pickup and hold. His rares get a little pricier, including a currently pumping MGLE of a phenomenal dunk from this season. I also like his other rares if you’re a fan, but my favorite moment is his legendary tier Rookie Revelations dunk. There is something so perfect about that moment with the Draft Day footage rolling into a windmill slam, with 2 rookie year badges. Come for the TSD, stay for the rares if you like to gamble.
4. Jalen Green – Houston Rockets: Speaking of players who are built for Top Shot, Jalen Green is a nightly highlight reel. One of the games best and most consistent in game dunkers, Jalen Green is the epitome of the hit or miss dice roll. Potential to drop 30 any given night, he could just as easily drop 12. Green did get some nice eyes on his game for the emerging Rockets team in the NBA Cup and looks poised to be a breakout scoring candidate in the 2nd half of the year. His pure athleticism was on full display and while he did not drop a ton of points in the last game, his highlight impact does not take much to draw attention. Green is a guy you can plug in on Fast Break nights in a pinch, but I also like the TSD as a pickup and hold, similar to Mathurin above. You do need to grab at least a Green common dunk moment for the pure viewing pleasure; all of which could easily be Throwdowns. Speaking of Throwdowns, they’re every bit as good as you would imagine and his 2023-2024 MGLE was one of the best dunks on the platform last year. There is also plenty of rookie year badge moments from S3, but I am partial to recommend the Rim Shakers moment that featured him with a Top Shot moment necklace in the thumbnail. Buy some Jalen Green and watch your moments!
3. Yves Missi – New Orleans Pelicans: Talk about someone making the most of their opportunity, Yves Missi has vaulted his way up from the outside in to the top half of the Kia NBA Rookie Ladder and may not be done climbing with Jared McCain going down with an injury. Cracking the lineup as the starting Center for the Zion-less Pelicans, Missi has become a viable option on Fast Break on rebound nights and is sneaky for blocks as well. Since 11/11 he has put up 10 games of double-digit rebounds, including 6 double doubles. With the Pelicans possibly blowing the roster up, there seems to be no end in sight for the minutes Missi is getting nightly. He makes for an interesting rookie to stack TSDs of and also was a recent Throwdowns challenge reward. Grab at least one at the current $5-$6 price point and track him going up the rookie ladder.
2. Karl–Anthony Towns – New York Knicks: Full disclosure, I have never been a huge KAT fan. I think he is a bit cringey and just never have been overly excited about his game, outside of some 3-point contest stuff from years ago. You can not deny though the perfect fit in New York and what KAT has done there this year. You would be hard pressed to find a night in Fast Break where KAT is not a viable option. He is dropping in nearly 25ppg and 13 rebounds per game on a high profile team with ideals of contending. He is a threat any given night to explode for 40+ or carry your team on rebounds and free throws, contribute to blocks or steals or whatever other combination they dream up, outside of maybe assists. Outside of just Fast Break, KAT is getting some long overdue attention as a premier player now that he is putting up these numbers in the mecca that is New York. Look at what last year’s playoff run did for Jalen Brunson’s profile and career, leaving a major mark in carrying the Knicks as far as they went in the playoffs. If KAT can get it done in the playoffs, he will be on the cusp of one of MSG’s favorite sons. A 10-year veteran in the league, KAT has no shortage of moments on Top Shot, so you have plenty to choose from. He has 3 Knicks moments already if you want something new. I like a rare tier pickup of KAT for Fast Break usage, with some good ones being his Video Game Numbers, For the Win and S2 Throwdown. On the common front, you can not go wrong with this MSFE or the fabled Cool Cats set. I just picked up his TSD over the weekend for the MSFE challenge, feeling like it was a good pickup with the way he has been playing and opportunity in the bright New York lights. Jesus take the wheel.
1. Ja Morant – Memphis Grizzlies: If you asked me to pick one player who was built for Top Shot, my answer would be Ja Morant. We talked about it above with Mathurin and Jalen Green who are carved from a similar athletic mold, there is just no comparison to Ja Morant on the basketball court from an athleticism perspective. After a multi-week injury in November, Ja is back as a force to be reckoned with, filling up the stat sheets and dropping highlight after highlight. Let’s not forget, before Ja went down the path of being an idiot, then fighting the injury that ended his season short last year, he was on the cusp of breaking out in the top tier of the NBA stars. The Grizzlies were looking like contenders and Morant looked like the next big thing in the NBA, ultimately passed from that emerging tier by Shai Gilgeous Alexander. If Morant can stay healthy, he has the potential to be one of the bigger names on the platform, with a well curated catalog already existing. Grab any of the MGLEs, his incredible For the Win from last year or one of the best dunks of the year with his new NBA Cup rare. His TSD is a common grail on my list, that I think is a must own for any Ja fan or upside collector of Top Shot. If Ja can stay health and if Top Shot gets traction with collectors and/or more mainstream, Ja’s catalog is built to be a showcase. I am a firm believer, he is still on a path to be a mega star in the league, just hit a slight detour on the way.
If you made it this far, we’ll see you back next week! Until then, watch more moments, tell more stories and we ride at dawn…
