Top 5 NBA players who have invested in the Bored Ape Yacht Club NFTs

No. 3: LaMelo Ball

LaMelo Ball of the Charlotte Hornets during the second half on Dec. 19 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Phoenix Suns defeated the Hornets 137-106.

The 2021 NBA Rookie of the Year, LaMelo Ball, is having a breakout season, leading the Charlotte Hornets to 15 wins. The 20-year old point guard has registered 11 double-doubles and two triple-doubles.

He joins Josh Hart in being the only NBA players to own two Bored Apes. Ball's BAYC collection include the Bored Ape No. 598 and No. 7226.

---

No. 2: Shaquille O'Neal

Shaquille O'Neal walks on the grid before the F1 Grand Prix of USA at Circuit of The Americas on Oct. 24, 2021, in Austin, Texas.

Shaquille O'Neal is the only NBA to have purchased a Mutant Ape of the Bored Ape Yacht Club. He is the owner of the Mutant Ape No. 14452 – a M1 mutant ape in an exquisite jacket. He bought the mutant ape for 4.8 ETH ($18,741) on Sept. 25.

The mutant ape is generated from the 20,000 mutant serum (M1, M2 and M3 variants) created by the BAYC. The serum is to be applied to any of the original 10,000 Bored Apes, which mutates them into disfigured-looking apes.

---

No. 1: Steph Curry

Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors reacts after making a 3-point shot against the Memphis Grizzlies during the fourth quarter on Dec. 23 in San Francisco, California.

Two-time NBA champion Steph Curry is one of the earliest NBA players to purchase a Bored Ape NFT. He bought the No. 7990 unit of an uninterested-looking ape in a green suit on Aug. 28. The BAYC NFT was sold for 0.68 ETH ($2,653) in May, but Curry purchased it for 55 ETH (about $180,000 at the time).

The Golden State Warriors point guard uses a picture of the NFT as his avatar on Twitter, showing what a proud member he is. There's a high probability of seeing more NBA players joining this exclusive club in the near future.