Bitrabo Editorial
Former NBA athlete Scottie Pippen initiated the Game 5 Ball (BALL) project, an endeavor to tokenize the renowned “1991 Game 5 championship ball” as a real-world asset (RWA). However, the project and Pippen faced allegations of pulling over 100 Ether (ETH) and being involved in other cryptocurrency scams. The team behind Game 5 Ball now claims that a supposed attack was the cause of the incident.
Game 5 Ball: Immortalizing the Championship Ball on the Blockchain
Scottie Pippen, the basketball legend, recently announced the launch of the Game 5 Ball RWA project. This crypto initiative aimed to bring an “iconic piece of sports history” to the blockchain for the first time, intending to preserve the ball’s legacy that marked the beginning of the Bulls’ dynasty, with community support.
The project announcement evoked mixed reactions from crypto enthusiasts, with some expressing excitement for the concept. While one community member lauded the effort to tokenize sports memorabilia, they urged Pippen to execute it correctly. However, some doubted the project’s authenticity, labeling it a potential cash grab and questioning Pippen’s integrity.
Despite the divisive reception, the BALL token was launched on August 1, sparking controversy as its price rapidly dropped by almost 96% post-launch.
Online reports revealed that the sharp decline was attributed to the team withdrawing 103 ETH (approximately $330,000) from the project’s wallet. Allegations arose of the team snatching tokens an hour before the launch. Investors quickly spread the news, cautioning about a possible rug pull.
BALL’s Team: Tied to Alleged Crypto Frauds
Following the accusations, crypto investigator ZachXBT disclosed suspicious connections between the BALL project’s deployer wallet and an abandoned NFT project called “Lil’ Hippo” associated with an individual named “Mr. Moe.”
Additionally, Zach revealed Pippen’s involvement in a 2022 NFT scam, where an NFT collection offering genuine sneakers to 33 holders was left unfulfilled. However, Mr. Moe defended Game 5 Ball, attributing the launch hiccup to internal issues.
The team addressed the sabotage attempts, mentioning sniper bots and phishing attacks, and clarified the liquidity withdrawal to prevent losses. Despite the explanations, community trust in the project’s transparency and credibility remains uncertain.