After months of behind-the-scenes work, the Gutter Cat Gang announced its collaboration with global sportswear brand PUMA x Charlotte Hornets' Guard, LaMelo Ball, who was named the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2021.
Back in January, during a Gutter FM Twitter Space, Gutter Dan hinted at a Spring brand partnership, that included "two massive partners" and would be the "best activation to date."
More recently - in early May - Gutter Ric took to Twitter, also hyping what we now understand is the PUMA x LaMelo collab: "Too excited to announce one of the projects we've been working on for the last year. Merging digital and physical unlike anyone has done yet. Putting Gutter and web3 on the map with some elite company."
Though we don't yet know the full extent of the activation or collaboration, here's what we know about this elite company:
LaMelo Ball (@MELOD1P), owns Gutter Cat #2569, a 5-Trait feline with Orange Tabby Fur, Green Eyes, a Turban, ThreeOhFive Shirt, and a White Background. He purchased it in June, 2021, shortly after mint.
His wallet also holds Gutter Rat #2569, a 7-Trait rodent with Gold Fur, Squinted Yellow Eyes, Whiskers, Backwards Hat, Headphones Necklace, Jail Shirt, and a Yellow Background. In addition to this Gutter pair, he holds a Cat and Rat Gutter Juice.
LaMelo was selected by the Hornets as the third overall pick of the 2020 NBA draft, and .voted the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2021. He was named an NBA All-Star in 2022.
In April, 2022, during an NBA game against the Orlando Magic, he debuted custom 1-1s featuring PUMA's Gutter Cat:
The Gutter Cat Times reached out to Gutter Ric to get his insights now that this ballin' collab has been announced!
He said, "LaMelo is the 4th youngest NBA All Star in league history - behind Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Magic Johnson - and being able to work with him and his team on this project alongside Puma has been a dream come true. I'm also excited about the opportunity to expand the Gutter's reach and build a stronger community. This collaboration with LaMelo and Puma will not only bring in new members to our community, but also inspire our existing members to continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in the digital world."
Gutter Ric added, "I'm most excited about the fact that this collaboration will bring more mainstream awareness to web3 technology and its use cases. By partnering with established brands like Puma and prominent figures like LaMelo Ball, we are able to showcase the potential of web3 to a wider audience. The Gutter is at the forefront of the NFT space, and this partnership is an opportunity to...encourage more people to explore the possibilities of this new technology."
As the Gutter Cat Gang looks to the future, Gutter Ric told the GCT: "I hope this collaboration with LaMelo and Puma brings more mainstream adoption...As we continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in the digital world, we need to bring more people along with us." Working with established brands will help to do this, he believes.
He's also hopeful "that this collaboration will lead to more innovation and growth within the Gutter community. As we continue to expand our reach and build stronger partnerships, we can create new opportunities for our members to collaborate and create. Overall, I believe that this collaboration with LaMelo and Puma will help to position the Gutter as a leader in the NFT space, while also inspiring others to join us on this journey."
Gang Gang!
You heard it here first, Gang. We're not only ballin' with LaMelo and PUMA, but creating pathways for mainstream adoption, community collabs, and positioning Gutter as a leader in the space!
Stay tuned for more on this developing story, and follow the @guttercattimes on Twitter for all Gutter news, all the time.
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