26 of the Best “Sneaky” Star Moments on NBA Top Shot
Can an appetizer be an entree? Is a burger a sandwich? Is taking three steps without dribbling a travel if your name is LeBron? Labels help shape and define how we perceive things in life, and that philosophical conundrum exists in the NBA Top Shot marketplace too.
Buckle up and get ready for me to blow your mind — a Moment in Top Shot can heavily feature a star player and not be that player’s Moment.
One of the beautiful things about Top Shot is the dynamic nature of each Moment, and with it, the ability to look beyond the label and make our own judgement. Unlike static, paper cards that lay motionless and emotionless, in a sleeve within a thicker sleeve within a binder that either sits in the darkest caverns of a cabinet in your basement, or a vault hidden somewhere in your office, Top Shot Moments are alive. Each one tells a story that goes beyond a name and simple box score, capturing a slice of context of every game it represents.
For every RJ Barrett dunk, there is a Julius Randle assist; but how that play is labeled and who the Moment is assigned to can change a lot. The likelihood you’ll notice it and how it’s valued, for starters. But whether you’re a completist collector or looking for exposure to a star on a budget, this list, and the exercise you can complete after you read it, should help open your eyes to a bunch of fun, under the radar Moments you may want for your collection.
Unlike my previous post on the 120 best “budget” Moments, some of these can be a little more expensive, and in certain cases, just plain expensive. Only buy what you can afford, and more importantly, only buy what you want. Nothing in life is guaranteed, and that rings especially true for your return on investment in Top Shot. I’m a long-term bull, and love the product and community, and my account being “red” at this moment in time does not detract from my feelings or enjoyment about any of this.
Anyway, each of the Moments in this post prominently features a star player, but are actually labeled as one of their teammates or opponents. I’m calling them Fauxments. For the purposes of this article, I’m focusing on some of the biggest stars on Top Shot, a few legends, and the 2021 Rookie of the Year, Lamelo Ball. Let’s get started.
LeBron James FauxMents
For a long time, the lowest entry point into Lebron James on Top Shot was his S2 /15000 “No Look” Three, which, depending on the week, could range between $450 — $999. That’s a lot of dough, no matter the potential value of the King’s crown. While a recently introduced /35000 Block and Assist make him more affordable, with each around $40–$75, there are actually a lot of plays involving Lebron, for better and worse, at different price points.
Here are some of my favorite “Fauxments” that heavily feature LBJ but don’t actually come with the credit (and price tag) of the label.
Rajon Rondo’s first Moment and Top Shot debut is an assist on September 24, 2020, in the Bubble, during the NBA Playoffs. You’ve probably scrolled past it dozens of times without giving it a second of consideration or thought. But take a minute to actually watch the Moment and you’ll be surprised at what you see, and who the real star of the play is.
The Rajon Rondo assist, innocously hiding in the marketplace for only the most passionate fans of the pesky point guard? Yea, um, so, it’s actually a ferocious slow-motion Lebron James dunk during his NBA Championship winning Pandemic Playoff run towards his first ring as a Laker.
The label is telling you it’s not, but it is, and it’s spectacular. See for yourself.
So is a common S1 Moment of Rajon Rondo worth $250+ of your hard earned money? That’s for you to decide! But you could take that exact highlight, put LeBron’s name on it, and it would cost 600% more!
Well, you literally can’t; this is a very theoretical and metaphysical NBA Top Shot exercise.
But if you want to own some LeBron, or all of LeBron, expanding beyond the label and diving into the reality and context of the game can make a big difference.
What if I told you that you could own a goregous Lebron James assist in the 2020 NBA Finals for around $100? Is that something you might be interested in? Look no further than the Markieff Morris Three Pointer, his Top Shot debut and first Moment. The assist is a bigger part of the play than the shot. The only difference is the label, and it’s a $5,000 difference.
This is when I tell you that this is not financial advice and you should make your own decisions about what you buy and why you buy it. Obviously Markieff Morris and Rajon Rondo Moments will never be as valuable as a LeBron James Moment, because labels DO matter in that regard.
But if you just want to collect really cool Moments that feature some of the biggest players in the NBA, try looking beyond the label.
Here’s more of what you’ll find when you do:
Pascal Siakam’s debut Moment (S1) is a monster block in a Raptors win. The block is on Lebron James. It costs around $99.
Duncan Robinson’s debut Moment (S1) is a deeeeeeeeep three, from the damn logo, in the Bubble NBA Finals. Lebron is heavily featured on D and doesn’t defend Robinson off the screen. It costs around $120.
Reggie Bullock’s debut Moment (S1) is literally art. Standing on the Lakers logo at midcourt, he fleeces Lebron mid-stride and proceeds towards an uncontested dunk. Yours for $50.
Talen Horton Tucket’s /35000 dunk, which is a buzzer beater, also happens to be a full-court inbounds pass from LeBron, which is just absurd. It’s $4!
Anthony Davis has two dunks that come from LeBron assists and you can own both for less than $40. Considering they won an NBA title together, and are both still really good, and will be in the playoffs again this year (…right?), it seems like a good move as a collector. The /15000 is currently $26, and his /35000 is $9.
Fauxments from the Brooklyn Trio, New and Old
Nicolas Claxton’s Top Shot debut (S2) is a one-handed alley-oop from Brooklyn Nets James Harden against the Knicks, and it’s $8. Deandre Jordan is also the benefactor of a James Harden assist into an alley-oop ($4).
In two separate occasions, Rockets James Harden is the victim of a game winning three, both in S1 debut Moments by Nemanja Bjelica ($43) and Bojan Bogdonovich ($62). They’re two of the best celebratory game winning shots you’ll find on Top Shot, both with Harden watching in disbelief as he loses. Harden is also the facilitator and assist-provider to John Wall ($18), PJ Tucker ($40), and David Nwaba ($5) in their first Moments on Top Shot across S1 and S2, as well as to DeMarcus Cousins ($5) and Christian Wood ($6). There will never be more James Harden assists as a Rocket on Top Shot.
In Chris Chiozza’s new Hustle & Show moment ($8), which is also his debut, the show is a Kevin Durant dunk in transition. That’s the lowest price you can pay to have Kevin Durant dunking on Top Shot.
Brook Lopez’s Run It Back /275 dunk ($420) is the only assist you’ll ever see from Paul Pierce on Top Shot. The only other play available from Paul Pierce is also a Run It Back Moment on the Brooklyn Nets, a huge game winning block against the Raptors in the playoffs. It’s way, way more expensive.
Young Steph Curry Fauxments!
What more do you need to know? Andrew Bogut’s /275 Run It Back Moment (and Top Shot debut) is a behind the back pass to baby faced Steph Curry, who then, believe it or not, hits a three pointer. I think it’s safe to say you’ll never find another Moment on Top Shot, ever, with Steph Curry younger than he is in this play from 2013. At $1300, It ain’t cheap, but it’s kinda special.
Young Russell Westbrook Fauxments!
Remember when the Thunder had Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook? Through Steven Adam’s Run It Back Dunk ($550), you can have the only Moment in Top Shot to feature both Russ and KD; it’s a game 7 home playoff victory, a Russ triple double, and from Adams’ rookie season. They’d ultimately lose to the Spurs in the Western Conference Finals, but this is Westbrook’s only Thunder assist, and the only Durant Moment on the Thunder other than his iconic $30,000+ Run It Back.
Lamelo Ball Fauxments
Over the next decade, this kid is going to have a ridiculous highlight reel of mind-bending passes. Here are some of the best from his rookie season. Since they aren’t technically Lamelo Ball assists, you know, because that’s not what the label says, they’re really affordable! They also happen to be huge Miles Bridges dunks, and a buzzer beating circus shot by Caleb Martin. Take your pick.
With a bigger budget, you can also own a beautiful Rare /499 Miles Bridges alley-oop from Ball in the form of his S2 MGLE Moment.
There are a lot of Moments like this. Almost every Mavericks play that doesn’t explicilty belong to Luka Doncic begins with a Luka assist; take a look for yourself.
Daniel Theis is relatively unspectacular, but his S1 Top Shot debut Moment ($50) is a block that absolutely embarrasses 2X MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo; and let’s be real, there definitely are not enough Giannis Moments on Top Shot!
(Editors note: there are currently 31 Giannis Moments on Top Shot. Please stop minting more of them.)
Clint Capela probably isn’t your favorite player, but his new /35000 Block ($3) is a two-handed stuff of Zion Williamson that will remind you of vague memories watching volleyball for five minutes during the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. Remember the Olympics? Good times.
What I would encourage you to do, as a fan and collector, is look beyond the label. It’s easy to dismiss a Moment if the player isn’t a recognizable name or All-Star, and perhaps it’s a bad investment to spend your money on guys who won’t “make it” long term. But if you want to have fun, and build a unique collection that is special to you, actually watch the plays.
The Top Shot team has gotten really great at curating what they mint and release, in terms of unique and cool time capsules from the season. The only way to fully appreciate them, and understand the full story beyond the label, is to devote ten seconds to watching them. Start with your favorite team, and look at every play that isn’t from your favorite player; there is a strong probability he might be involved, even if he isn’t at face value.
If there’s a Fauxment you love, let me know on Twitter or by commenting on this post, and I’ll add it in. Thanks for reading, and happy collecting!
