Sacramento Kings Announce Second Release of Laidback Lions NFTs

Today, the Sacramento Kings announced their second release of Laidback Lions Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), presented by Ankr, a leader in web3 infrastructure. Eighty unique Laidback Lions depicting the team’s mascot Slamson will be included in the mint set to begin on August 31 on Magic Eden. 

“Based on the tremendous response to the first release of the Laidback Lions, we are thrilled to expand our collection of NFTs and welcome new owners to The Jungle community,” said Sacramento Kings Owner and Chairman Vivek Ranadivé. “We are continually focused on creating new and engaging experiences for the best fans in the world and we are excited to offer this unique opportunity.”

This announcement builds off the team’s genesis Laidback Lion launch in December 2021 and will allow owners the opportunity to unlock membership in “The Jungle” with invitations to private events, including a pregame event with Kings Owner and Chairman Vivek Ranadivé and tickets to a Kings game. Members of The Jungle have previously participated in a similar event during the 2021-22 season. Members will also receive an exclusive Jungle hoodie. During the upcoming season, members will be invited to a private pick-up basketball game on the Kings court in Golden 1 Center.

Seventy-nine of the new Laidback Lions will be available for approximately $500 and one rare gold Laidback Lion will be auctioned at a starting price of approximately $5,000. In addition to the benefits that come with being a member of The Jungle, the owner of the rare Laidback Lion will also have access to a VIP road trip experience with the Kings during the 2022-23 season, including roundtrip domestic flights, hotel and game tickets for themselves and a guest. To learn more, visit Kings.com/LaidbackLions.   

The Kings continue to be one of the most technology-advanced organizations in sports and have been at the forefront of incorporating blockchain technology across the business. In July 2021, the team piloted the first-ever Smart Ticket NFT Experience Pass for 100 fans during California Classic NBA summer league games. Additionally, the team launched a digital collection of 85 NFTs depicting the 1985 commemorative pin given out in the Kings inaugural season in Sacramento with exclusive experiences, including 2021-22 Opening Night tickets. In 2020, the team launched the NBA’s first live blockchain-powered auction platform for authentic memorabilia with Consensys and Treum. In 2019, the Kings announced the NBA’s first blockchain-powered reward program in collaboration with Blockparty – an enhancement to the NBA’s first predictive gaming application, “Call the Shot.” Also in 2019, the Kings announced a collaboration with CryptoKaiju, creator of the world’s first vinyl toys powered by Ethereum and fully traceable on a public blockchain, to launch the first physical crypto-collectible in professional sports. In 2018, the Kings became the first professional sports team in the world to mine cryptocurrency and announced a charitable program, MiningForGood, that donates those funds to workforce development and training efforts in the community.