November 7

NFT Value Estimator

Estimate the current value of your Tracy McGrady "13 Points in 35 Seconds" NFT based on rarity and features.
(Based on 2022-2024 secondary market trends)

Values based on Binance NFT marketplace data from 2022-2024

The ARCHE Network x Tracy McGrady NFT airdrop wasn’t just another crypto giveaway. It was a carefully crafted digital tribute to one of the most electric moments in NBA history - Tracy McGrady’s 13 points in 35 seconds against the San Antonio Spurs in 2004. This wasn’t a flash-in-the-pan celebrity NFT drop. It was a partnership built on legacy, technical precision, and real fan connection.

What Made This Airdrop Different?

Most athlete NFTs are just images of players with generic stats slapped on them. This one had a story. The collection, titled Time 13 Points in 35 Seconds, was built around a single, unforgettable sequence: McGrady, down by 5 points with 35 seconds left, scoring 13 straight points to win the game. No timeouts. No breaks. Pure clutch.

ARCHE Network didn’t just license McGrady’s name. They licensed the moment itself - the only official digital collectible series authorized by McGrady and his team. That exclusivity mattered. It turned the NFTs from memorabilia into historical artifacts.

The airdrop dropped on November 7, 2021, exactly 14 days before the official sale on Binance NFT. And the number? 3,513 mystery boxes. Why? Because 35 seconds and 13 points = 3513. Every detail was intentional.

How Did You Get One?

You couldn’t just buy one. You had to qualify. ARCHE partnered with CoinMarketCap to distribute the airdrop to users who met specific criteria - likely holding certain tokens, participating in community events, or engaging with ARCHE’s platform. The exact rules weren’t published publicly, but participation was tied to being active in the crypto space, not just having money.

Each mystery box contained two things:

  • A T-MAC Time Collector’s Edition NFT - a unique digital asset featuring a still from the iconic sequence, animated highlights, or exclusive artwork.
  • A special ticket for future events - think virtual meetups, exclusive watch parties of the game, or early access to future NFT drops.
This wasn’t just about owning a picture. It was about being part of an ongoing experience. The ticket added utility. It turned passive collectors into engaged fans.

A basketball-shaped mystery box opens to release animated NFTs and a ticket, surrounded by floating crypto symbols.

Why ARCHE Network?

ARCHE Network wasn’t a big name in 2021. But they had a clear vision: build a decentralized crypto asset store for the Metaverse. Their DPaaS (Decentralized Protocol as a Service) platform allowed them to create smart contracts for mystery boxes, NFT sales, and even lending - all in one ecosystem.

They didn’t just want to sell NFTs. They wanted to help people tokenize their own life moments - a graduation, a first goal, a wedding - and share them with others. McGrady’s moment was the perfect proof of concept. If a basketball play could become a lasting, tradable digital asset, then so could your personal milestones.

Tracy McGrady himself was involved. He didn’t just lend his image. He said: “Now NFT has definitely made the process much easier and memorable for everyone... it’s as if we’re reliving those moments.” That personal endorsement gave the project authenticity. Fans knew he believed in it.

Why Binance NFT?

ARCHE didn’t host the NFTs themselves. They partnered with Binance NFT - one of the largest and most trusted NFT marketplaces at the time. This gave the collection instant credibility and liquidity.

Once the airdrop ended, the NFTs went live on Binance’s marketplace. Users could trade them, view price trends, and even auction them off. Binance’s infrastructure handled everything: royalties, bidding, listing, and verification. It meant the NFTs weren’t locked away on some obscure platform. They were part of the broader crypto economy.

Binance was running similar deals with other NBA legends like Allen Iverson. This wasn’t a one-off. It was part of a larger strategy to turn sports history into digital collectibles - and Binance was leading the charge.

Fans holding glowing NFTs that project McGrady’s iconic plays, their arms stretching like rubber bands in excitement.

What Happened After the Airdrop?

The initial buzz faded as the broader NFT market cooled in 2022. But the collection didn’t disappear. The 3,513 NFTs kept trading. Some sold for a few hundred dollars. Others, especially rare variants or those with the original event ticket, held higher value.

More importantly, the project set a precedent. It proved that retired athletes could monetize their most iconic moments - not just through merchandise, but through blockchain-based digital ownership. It showed that fans didn’t just want to buy a jersey. They wanted to own a piece of history, with proof, scarcity, and community attached.

ARCHE’s V2.0 platform launched alongside the airdrop, adding new features like Swap, Farm, and Lending. The McGrady NFTs helped drive adoption. People didn’t just want the NFT - they wanted to use the whole ecosystem.

Why This Still Matters

Today, in 2025, NFTs are no longer a hype cycle. They’re a tool. And this airdrop was one of the first to use that tool wisely.

It combined:

  • A real, emotional sports moment
  • Authentic athlete involvement
  • Technical infrastructure (DPaaS, smart contracts)
  • Partnerships with trusted platforms (Binance, CoinMarketCap)
  • Utility beyond ownership (event tickets)
That’s the blueprint for any successful NFT project now. Not flashy art. Not celebrity names alone. Real stories, backed by real tech, with real utility.

The '13 Points in 35 Seconds' collection didn’t just drop NFTs. It dropped a message: your greatest moments deserve to be preserved - and shared - in a way that lasts.

Was the ARCHE Network x Tracy McGrady NFT airdrop free?

Yes, the airdrop itself was free. Users didn’t pay to receive the mystery box. But they had to qualify through CoinMarketCap by meeting specific activity or holding requirements. Once you got the box, you owned the NFT and ticket without any additional cost.

How many NFTs were in the Tracy McGrady airdrop?

Exactly 3,513 mystery boxes were distributed. Each box contained one T-MAC Time Collector’s Edition NFT and an event ticket. The number 3,513 was chosen to represent the 35 seconds and 13 points of McGrady’s legendary scoring run.

Where can I buy these NFTs now?

The NFTs are still available for trade on secondary markets, primarily through Binance NFT. You can search for the collection using the official title: 'Time 13 Points in 35 Seconds'. Prices vary based on rarity, animation quality, and whether the original event ticket is still attached.

Did Tracy McGrady have a role in creating the NFTs?

Yes. Unlike many athlete NFT projects, McGrady was directly involved. He approved the designs, endorsed the project publicly, and helped shape the narrative around the NFTs. He called it a way to let fans relive his greatest moments - which gave the collection authenticity and emotional weight.

What was the purpose of the event ticket included in the mystery box?

The event ticket wasn’t just a bonus - it was a bridge to future engagement. It granted access to exclusive virtual events like live watch parties of the 2004 game, Q&As with McGrady, or early access to future ARCHE Network NFT drops. It turned a one-time airdrop into an ongoing community experience.

Why did ARCHE Network choose this specific NBA moment?

The 13 points in 35 seconds is one of the most dramatic comebacks in NBA history. It’s not just stats - it’s tension, skill, and willpower. ARCHE recognized that emotional storytelling drives NFT value. This moment had a clear narrative arc: down by 5, no timeouts, then 13 straight points. Perfect for a digital collectible.

Is ARCHE Network still active today?

Yes. While the McGrady NFT drop was in 2021, ARCHE Network continues to operate its decentralized crypto asset store with services like Swap, Farm, and Lending. The platform remains focused on helping users tokenize personal milestones, using the McGrady collaboration as a foundational example of what’s possible.

Hannah Michelson

I'm a blockchain researcher and cryptocurrency analyst focused on tokenomics and on-chain data. I publish practical explainers on coins and exchange mechanics and occasionally share airdrop strategies. I also consult startups on wallet UX and risk in DeFi. My goal is to translate complex protocols into clear, actionable knowledge.

4 Comments

Puspendu Roy Karmakar

This was the first NFT project that actually made me feel something. Not just ‘look at this cool art’-but like I was holding a piece of history. That 35-second run? I watched it on loop as a kid. To know it’s preserved like this? Yeah. That’s magic.

Evelyn Gu

You know… I just… I mean… I didn’t even know what DPaaS was until I read this, but now I get it? Like… it’s not just about the NFT, it’s about the whole ecosystem-like, the ticket, the watch parties, the fact that Tracy actually *believed* in it… and now I’m crying? Why am I crying? It’s just a basketball moment… but also… it’s not? It’s everything? I don’t know. I just… I need to get one. Now. Please.

Shelley Fischer

While the narrative surrounding this airdrop is compelling, it is imperative to note that the technical infrastructure underpinning the project-namely ARCHE’s DPaaS platform-demonstrates a level of sophistication rarely seen in athlete-backed NFT initiatives. The integration of smart contracts for utility-based event tickets, rather than mere digital collectibles, represents a paradigm shift in fan engagement mechanics. This is not speculation; it is documented innovation.

Komal Choudhary

wait so you mean to tell me tracy mcgrady actually *liked* this? like… he didn’t just get paid and disappear? i thought all these nft deals were just scammers buying a face and slapping it on a jpeg. this feels… real? like, too real? what’s the catch???

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