Tristan Thompson Regrets Taking $82 Million in Cash Over Bitcoin in 2015
Date: 2025-05-22 Author: Gabriel Deangelo Categories: CRYPTO PAYMENTS
In an interview with Cointelegraph Magazine, former NBA player and reality TV personality Tristan Thompson admitted that he still can’t get over the financial decision he made in 2015. He signed an $82 million contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers and took the cash payment. At the time, Bitcoin was trading at around $270, and if he had chosen to pay in cryptocurrency, his net worth would be around $32.5 billion today.
“With what I know now, I would definitely insist on Bitcoin. It would be the greatest sports bet of all time,” Thompson joked.
However, the athlete also admitted that he is not sure how he would have reacted to sharp drops in the crypto market, including periods of a bearish trend and the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. He noted that he might not have had the knowledge and stamina to make such a decision back then.
Despite the missed opportunity, Tristan has not turned his back on the world of cryptocurrencies. He hosts his own podcast Courtside Crypto, collaborates with crypto bookmaker Sportsbet.io as an ambassador, and consults for the AI platform TraceyAI, which helps fans analyze basketball games.
In addition, Thompson is actively involving other NBA players in the crypto community. “I always advise starting with Bitcoin. It is the foundation. When it moves, the rest of the market follows,” he says.
He was inspired by the experience of his friend, NFL player Odell Beckham Jr., who chose to receive his salary in BTC in 2021. NBA stars Klay Thompson and Andre Iguodala also followed his example.
At the same time, Tristan sharply criticizes the trend of celebrity meme coins. He said that he would never issue a token under his own name: “It’s always associated with negativity. Too many celebrities came to crypto solely for profit, and not for the development of the industry.”
He also admitted that he actively follows events on Crypto Twitter and continues to invest. One of his recent regrets is that he missed the launch of the TRUMP token, associated with US President Donald Trump. “I was having lunch with Anthony Edwards at the time and didn’t see the notification. It was a shame,” he laughs.
Recall that analysts, including BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes, predict that the price of bitcoin could reach $1 million in the next three years.
