LaMelo Ball, a professional basketball player for the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA), has filed trademark applications for LAMELO BALL, 1 OF 1 and M.E.L.O., showing his intention to enter the metaverse.
According to the applications, LaMelo Ball plans to provide “Virtual and digital interactive representations of LaMelo Ball for use in virtual experiences, augmented reality experiences, and the metaverse.”
Additionally, the trademark applications mention the availability of virtual and digital goods, such as avatars, beverages, watches, sports equipment, toys, and so much more, to be used in online and virtual worlds.
Also, there will be multimedia files, audio recordings, video recordings, and image files containing content, artwork, text, audio, and video relating to the LaMelo Ball.
These will be stored in digital wallets and authenticated by non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
As part of his metaverse project, LaMelo Ball also aims to develop “virtual basketball courts, gyms, parks, and recreational facilities for playing sports, sports training in the metaverse, and virtual worlds.”
Users will also have the opportunity to participate in video game contests, online and live video game tournaments, online and live video game exhibitions, and more.
Trademark attorney Josh Bergen reported the news in a tweet headlined “LaMelo Ball is headed to the metaverse.”
LaMelo Ball is headed to the metaverse.
— Josh Gerben (@JoshGerben) February 21, 2022
Just days before the All-Star Game, @MELOD1P filed trademark applications for LAMELO BALL, 1 OF 1 and M.E.L.O.
The filings indicate that Ball intends to offer:
1. Virtual goods
2. NFTs
3. Virtual basketball courts
👇#LaMeloBall #NBA pic.twitter.com/6UaHBtG56v
NBA associations and players are becoming increasingly involved in the NFT and the metaverse. Earlier this month, the NBA released its “NBA All-Star” NFT collection to commemorate the League’s 75th anniversary, while a few days ago, NBA introduced “Coach Nat,” a virtual coach that knows the fundamental rules and moves of basketball.
At the end of December, Stephen Curry released 2,974 NFTs in honor of his NBA record-breaking three-pointers, and Michael Jordan and his son Jeffrey Jordan announced the launch of HEIR, an NFT platform for athletes.
