Interview with Jacob Eisenberg from Dapper Labs about Top Shot Score (TSS)

3 min readNov 8, 2024

Below is a summary of the Twitter (X) Spaces interview that occurred on November 7, 2024.

Hosts:
@Libruary_NFT and @intangible_eth

Summary:

Dapper Labs has made significant updates to NBA Top Shot’s scoring system, with changes that reflect a commitment to fairness, engagement, and ongoing community trust. Jacob from Dapper Labs provided a detailed look into the evolution of Top Shot Score (TSS) and shared insights into the future direction of the platform. Here’s a summary of the interview’s key takeaways.

1. Jacob’s Role at Dapper Labs

Jacob plays a multifaceted role at Dapper Labs, focusing on community engagement, partnerships with the NBA and NFL, operational leadership, and campaign strategy. His work centers on creating a platform that connects with users while keeping Top Shot’s goals at the forefront.

2. The Evolution of TSS

Background: TSS began as Collector Score, a points-based system tied to collection tiers and bonuses to reward top collectors. However, it quickly became complex and sometimes counterintuitive for users.
Transition to TSS: Dapper replaced Collector Score with TSS to simplify the experience and encourage holding. However, the initial system caused equity issues, especially with leaderboards favoring early adopters who collected during a bullish market.
New Model: TSS is now calculated based on either 10x the purchase price or the average of the last 10 sales of a moment — whichever is higher. This change aims to create a fairer experience that doesn’t penalize new collectors in lower-value markets.

3. The Promise of “No Score Reduction”

The original promise that TSS would never decrease was broken to create a fairer system. While this decision wasn’t easy, it positively impacted active users who saw improvements in their rankings. Jacob explained that this change, although controversial, was necessary to ensure long-term trust and fairness.

4. Rebuilding Community Trust

Jacob acknowledged past issues related to premature promises, emphasizing that Dapper Labs is now focused on careful commitments and transparent communication. Learning from previous mistakes is crucial to maintaining community trust and building a stronger platform.

5. The Role of Burn Leaderboards and Challenges

Burn Leaderboards: Initially introduced to moderate the Top Shot economy by encouraging users to “burn” moments, burn leaderboards have been restructured. They now use average sale price as a metric for trade-in auctions, making it a level playing field for all collectors.
Special Serial Numbers: The new TSS model doesn’t currently account for special serial numbers, but Dapper Labs is planning adjustments to better support collectors who hold rare moments.

6. The Future of TSS

While TSS’s foundation will remain, Jacob noted that Dapper Labs will make minor tweaks to refine the system, focusing on incremental improvements rather than an overhaul.
Leaderboards and Airdrops: Rewards on team and player leaderboards will lean more towards exclusive access and status rather than traditional airdrops, which have shown potential to devalue the market.

7. Rethinking Set Collection Rewards

Set collection rewards may shift from airdrops toward exclusive perks like enhanced display options or unique collector experiences. The aim is to promote sustainable engagement and build deeper connections with the platform without risking market devaluation.

8. A Commitment to Consistent Communication

Acknowledging the community’s need for transparency, Jacob highlighted that Dapper Labs is working on delivering consistent and measured updates. By avoiding rushed announcements, they hope to foster a clearer and more reliable communication style moving forward.

9. New Innovations in Challenges and Accessibility

Arcade and Fast Break Enhancements: Dapper is improving the user experience with streamlined pack openings, automated reward delivery, and simplified trade-in processes, making these features more user-friendly and accessible.
Team-Based Competitions: Future challenges may include loyalty-based or team-specific challenges that reward users based on their preferred teams or specific collections.

10. Addressing Community Questions

Set Completion Rewards: Rewards for set completion will now prioritize meaningful incentives rather than simple airdrops.
Weekly Challenges: Dapper will continue to introduce challenge tiers based on completion rates, with specific sets like Metallic Silver following unique rules due to their historical significance.

Closing Thoughts

Jacob closed by emphasizing Dapper Labs’ dedication to community feedback, with the goal of creating a balanced, rewarding platform that values the contributions of collectors. NBA Top Shot continues to evolve with a focus on fairness, trust, and innovation to foster a sustainable, engaging environment for all collectors.