The worlds of anime and professional sports are set for another exciting collision with the announcement of a new line of One Piece and NBA crossover keychains. Bandai Namco and Shueisha have revealed that these special acrylic charms will debut in Gashapon capsule machines in Japan at the end of May 2026, offering fans a chance to collect their favorite characters in unique basketball gear. This merchandise expansion is part of an ongoing collaboration between the iconic manga franchise and the National Basketball Association, following previous releases like the SH Figuarts figure of Luffy in a Los Angeles Lakers uniform. The keychains feature dynamic character art with each figure sporting a specific NBA team’s jersey, blending the adventurous spirit of the Straw Hat Pirates with the competitive energy of the league.
Collection Details and Character Matchups
Each keychain is an acrylic charm depicting a character in action, complete with an attached ball chain. A single play from the Gashapon machine in Japan will cost 300 yen, approximately two US dollars, though international pricing for North America and other regions has not yet been confirmed. The collaboration thoughtfully pairs characters with teams, often based on established thematic links from prior crossover material. For instance, Monkey D. Luffy’s Gear 5 form is consistently associated with the Los Angeles Lakers, while other characters find new homes with different franchises. The full roster includes ten key characters: Enel with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Nami with the Denver Nuggets, Portgas D. Ace with the New York Knicks, Roronoa Zoro with the Boston Celtics, Sabo with the Memphis Grizzlies, Sanji with the Indiana Pacers, Shanks with the Chicago Bulls, Trafalgar Law with the Golden State Warriors, and Yamato with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Global Release and Broader Franchise Context
While the initial launch is scheduled for Japan, a global release is highly anticipated. Historically, Bandai Namco’s One Piece gacha items almost always make their way to international markets, often featured on the official English-language Gashapon website. This pattern suggests collectors in North America and beyond will likely have access to these keychains following their Japanese debut. This release arrives amidst a significant period of expansion for the One Piece franchise across various media. Beyond the enduring manga and anime available through Viz Media and platforms like Crunchyroll and Netflix, new adaptations are on the horizon, including the live-action series and the upcoming animated remake, *The One Piece*. This keychain collection represents another avenue for fans to engage with the series, merging pop culture fandoms in a tangible, collectible format.
