On Thursday, Cryptocurrency platform BlockFi announced they were in agreement on a multiyear partnership with Cade Cunningham, selected by the Detroit Pistons with the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA, and the rising star will receive his signing bonus from BlockFi directly in bitcoin.
As part of the agreement, Cunningham will collaborate with BlockFi on educational videos, promotional giveaways, exclusive interviews and other efforts “to raise awareness about the value of cryptocurrencies.”
The 19-year-old said said, “Many hardworking people still don’t have access to cost-efficient, reliable options to save and invest,” in a statement. Cunningham will make $45.6 million over the next four years as part of his rookie contract with the Pistons, which is separate from his signing bonus.
The 6-foot-8 point guard was named the Big 12 Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year after averaging 20.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.6 steals per game for the Oklahoma Cowboys.
“I’m not playing basketball just for fun anymore,” Cunningham told ESPN last month. “It’s a business now, and that’s the blessing of it. . . . Marketing myself, I want to be fully authentic with who I am. I don’t want to take any marketing deals that don’t match who I am.”
