Reason for Greatness: What's better than one LeBron? And if that's inspired him to such greatness, perhaps it can do the same for us. Having Gatorade emulate sweat adds some much needed color to an otherwise dark setting. Some of Riswolds best work came at the end of Jordans short-lived baseball career. If you know otherwise, keep your mouth shut. One has to wonder whether or not he knew that "Grandmama" would become his primary moniker throughout his career. Please tell me this goes through Dwyane Wade's head every time he drives the lane and rises up for a slam dunk. And we just changed the lyrics a little bit, and we put a (presentation) together.. Riswold came up with the idea of what he called Spike and Mike commercials when he saw Spike Lees 1986 feature-length debut Shes Gotta Have It in the theater. This was the best of them. However, they did do battle once upon a time with a major prize on the line MJs Big Mac. Reason for Greatness: LeBron and Kobe are puppets. They tried a talk-show format too. He'sthedoctor. Set to a poem written by Tupac, Powerades Just a Kid promo is both gut-wrenching and uplifting. In our Slack chat about commercials, several of my co-workers expressed their devotion to Jingle Hoops, the famous 2013 ESPN commercial where Rose, Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, James Harden and, uh, Steve Nash in a Lakers uniform make Jingle Bells with actual bells on the nets. This isn't the only one. That kind of devotion sparked the imagination of Riswold, who was working for Nikes ad agency. And then came the inspirational commercials, like the one about failure where a later-career Jordan opines about the shots he missed. Reason for Greatness: That laugh. Four LeBrons! There was only one answer and it wasnt Bo Jackson. Reason for Greatness: Jaw-dropping nature of Uncle Drew's game, even though you know it's coming. It was Riswold who penned the famous Charles Barkley commercial, where he declared that he should not be a role model. I can only imagine Michael Jordan's reaction when hearing a little action figure tell the world that he got the best of the notorious competitor on the greens. As for the song itself, Pitzel ripped up the lyrics he wrote on the paper tablecloth and stuff them in his jeans. . Much like the feature filmUncle Drew, Grandmama also transcended into other forms of media following the initial run of ads. Of course, the explosion in sports commercials was centered around shoes. If only Shaquille O'Neal stuck to making commercials like this one instead of lowering himself to the less-creative advertisements he's acting in today. But the thing I think that caught on is the whole, Sometimes I dream that he is me, Id like to see thats how I dream to be, kids especially kids, you know, what you do is you sit in the backyard, in the playground, and you pretend youre Jordan. Picking the best NBA commercials of all time is a task best suited to historians and archivists, but since they werent around, we did most of the work on Slack and YouTube. The first two houses didnt give him anything but Steve Shafer and Ira Antelis gave him a world music beat that he loved. Like maybe this Nike one? NBA 75: Complete series, (Illustration: Wes McCabe / The Athletic; Image via YouTube), Latrell Sprewell getting his hair braided, At No. Thats fine, of course, they were all great players. We played it for Jordan and he loved it, Pitzel said. Kyrie Irving pulls off his role as Uncle Drew perfectly, and the rest of the characters this series has used (Kevin Love, Nate Robinson, Maya Moore and who knows who else will join the squad in the future) only add to the appeal. Just be glad that it does, because now you can refer back to it whenever you need to be cheered up with some contagious laughter. Did we miss your favorite ad? In a weird Charles Barkley Show commercial for Nike, the late Shock G (dressed as Humpty Hump) is the Ed McMahon. Both players defining personality traits are well illustrated the first episode shows The King with child-like exuberance while the calculated and seasoned Black Mamba patiently puts up with his antics. If he wanted to dunk, he was going to dunk. Rose was just another kid born in a rough patch of Chicago. I want to be like Mike. Who doesnt? But they rapped! It didnt really work. The only player that could guard Jordan, is Jordan. That was like my home office, he said. While you're at it, prepare for a lot of appearances from Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal and the rest of the sport's biggest stars. But they shine alongside Manu Ginobili and Gregg Popovich in these commercials. No professional sport (soccer comes closest) markets their stars better than basketball. Between the instantaneous recognition that goes on in most basketball fans' minds and the brilliant dichotomy between pairing two faces at a time while using a "There can only be one" slogan, the NBA struck gold with this advertising campaign. While it was the Nike commercials that were responsible for Jordans unparalleled business success, theres another one that resonated perhaps even more, if only for its simplicity and its ear-worm jingle. 30, Chris Paul is the ultimate floor general and has made an immediate positive impact for his teams That's my assumption, at least From the minute you see Dr. J appear on your screen, you can't help but grudgingly acknowledge that you're excited about hearing him say the "Trust meI'm a doctor" slogan. Show the athlete, some great photography, the product shot and you move on., Of course, Jordan could only play this character for a time. Anachronistic or not, this is easily one of the most memorable commercial series of the 2000s. The next season, this TNT commercial for the Christmas Day games put past and current players together to the moody, hopeful melodies of Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors Live Forever.. Good commercial, though. It wasnt all Oscar-winning cinematography and big-budget commercials. Of course, the most famous local commercial, for unintended, phallic reasons, is Scottie Pippens Mr. OK, I forgot about them.
I mean, there was nothing for me like writing advertising in the middle of the afternoon at a restaurant where everybodys nobodys there., Instead of writing in a notebook, Pitzel started penning a new song using the same refrain on the white paper tablecloths. "Your shorts are 2.5 inches above your kneecaps, and your facial expressions when you dunk are verylimited.". Man does not fly in the house of Mutumbo.. Playing for a Big Mac? This may only be a commercial, but it sure feels real. The big man started 69 games during his sophomore season, averaging 9.4 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. does that mean, Kobe Bryant?". He got Jadakiss, wearing a Santana Moss jersey of course, rapping for him in this classic commercial. So they finally said we could have it for like $350,000 and we can run it one flight like 15, 16 weeks, but we couldnt use the term, Be Like Mike. Because the Jungle Book will be the Be Like Mike Song. (No offense, Isiah.). : The way it looks completely and totally 100 percent real. Best of the best, is what we strive to be Its safe to say the NBA has been, and always will be, in good hands.
The brutal honesty is particularly effective, as the dunking machine readily acknowledges his own shortcomings. For a brief moment, Riswold said he felt more important than Jack Nicholson.
His old ad agency in Chicago, Bayer Bess Vanderwarker, was trying to win him back and so they lured him in for a meeting with the promise he was going to work with the greatest athlete in the world. Nothing tops Kanye West looking right back at Kobe and saying, "What the #$*! Brightcast is a digital publishing company dedicated to creating an enjoyable content experience for users.
Unfortunate for both Nike and NBA fans. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. So Riswold and his team got to work on a commercial about a comeback. But at the very least, you'll be thoroughly entertained for the next 28 minutes and 34 seconds (the combined length of these 30 commercials), plus whatever extra time you take for the necessary diversions, follow-up videos and mandatory reading below each video. It perfectly coincides with the message Nike is trying to send. It was an amazing thing because if we had gone with the Jungle Book song, just parody that song with different lyrics, it would have gone away I think, he said. 30, Chris Paul is the ultimate floor general and has made an immediate positive impact for his teams. Reason for Greatness:Remembering the legend that was Cherokee Parks. Converse had Larry Johnson in drag as Grandmama. Julius Erving shoots ice cubes better than anyone on the planet (though I have a sneaking suspicion George Gervin could give him a run for his money), and it's all because he's a doctor. Reason for Greatness:Everything. But really, the true way is: Do you remember it? To this day Im not entirely sure how it all worked, but both young versions of Jordan are perfect representations of their real-life counterparts. His wife, he said, found them before she put the jeans in the washing machine and framed them. The short clip of gameplay is perfectly done. Sit back, relax and enjoy the holiday season with the best that the. I just left it and I went home because I was like so pissed, he said in a recent phone conversation. Most of James commercials are serious, for good and bad, but this is the most powerful Ive seen in the traditional sports ad sense. Its just catchy. The pair have individually been a part of 16 of the last 19 NBA Finals, and never once played each other. Obviously, this isn't exactly a commercial currently running when you tune into a local broadcast. Hes a West Side of Chicago guy. It's hard to remember now, but there was a time when Tracy McGrady was completely unstoppable. And of course he gives his approval. For me, it happens whenever I play my mom. Sit back, relax and enjoy the holiday season with the best that the NBA commercial world has to offer from the last 25 years. But because it was its own song, its own thing, Be Like Mike just resonated. Nike is no stranger to the puppeteer game. And Pitzels thought when he saw it was, It sucks.. We still had to had to negotiate with Disney, he said. Where's the nearest set of golden arches? Michael Jordan is obviously an iconic basketball player, and this epicnote: I'm not using that word lightlycommercial takes full advantage of that. Back in my day, we had to sit through commercials just to make sure we didnt miss anything.
In the heyday of Nikes commercial dominance, Jim Riswold, of Portlands famous advertising agency Wieden + Kennedy, preferred to think of himself as a Brandon Tartikoff type. Apparently, T-Mac couldn't be stopped by tanks, helicopters and all other sorts of military equipment either. It became a symbol of the disaster. If you don't crack a smile while listening to that music and watching a joyous Michael Jordan running around with a bunch of enthused kids, then you're clearly related to the Grinch. This commercial is resonant of how hair-band rock was quickly made obsolete by alternative music in the early 1990s. ), Until Spike Lee came along, Nike commercials were quite serious, Riswold said in a recent phone conversation. You could say that Westbrook is just the younger brother in the relationship. After the 1985-86 season, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas, Bernard King, Mark Aguirre and Kevin McHale all shoehorned into one commercial to advertise Converse high-tops, a brand that was the official shoe of the NBA and was on its way out. Between the intensity of the training and the real feel of the actual on-court plays, this commercials makes you want to get up and do something. A return that, again, didnt happen. It still holds up after all these years. Penny Hardaway became a household name thanks to Lil Penny (voiced by Chris Rock). Weve known this since the dawn of YouTube player highlights from back in the early 00s. From the memorable name to the "Don't reach, youngblood" catchphrase, Irving has created something that will resonate for a long time. They live in Arizona now, and the framed lyrics are on the wall of their house. He looks so determined at the beginning of the commercial, so proud of himself after ripping the rim away from the backboard and so crestfallen at the end. Reason for Greatness: Vince Carter actually being likable. Grandma Ruth, is that you? You'll laugh. Yes, the birds left the nest They not only spawned Jordans advertising domination, but also his future business, Jordan Brand, which has made him a billionaire. Sorry Uncle Drew, your shtick has been done once before. Its fun, moving, and encapsulates just about everything we love about sports. Pitzel went to the Italian restaurant Avenzare on E. Huron St. to figure out his next move. (It could be called False Humility.). But how could they make Jordan different than what came before him? We did two different ones, playing off the old Dallas TV show, he said. A career that once looked so bright was crushed by countless injuries and mental fatigue.
In Chicago, Jordan was famous for doing Chevy commercials. Reason for Greatness: The cyclical nature. Its just so simple.. The former Chicago Bull will likely end up as the only NBA MVP not to be enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame. The dance movesnot so much. Every night, the Association produces a ton of amazing plays and memorable moments, whether they're LeBron James dunks, Anthony Davis blocks, Stephen Curry three-pointers, Kobe Bryant jumpers or something else entirely. Nike brought the two worlds together, using a Juelz Santana track to endorse the companys new generation of stars. And how does it make you feel? Reason for Greatness: "Don't fake the funk on a nasty dunk.". And they helped inspire another commercial where a basketball player dresses like an old man for some reason. After all, the NBA's reigning MVP has a few pieces of jewelry to his own name now. Commercials for his shoes were more than just a product advertisement, they became a lifestyle brand. *Garnett isn't actually retired, but it's tough to guess that based on his play with the Brooklyn Nets. There was a period when it seemed like this commercial would show up during every single break, and it was still entertaining each time it came across your television screen. The year is 2008. Larry Johnson's Converse advertisement is one of the more enduring commercials of the 1990s, coming at a time when the athletic forward was at the peak of his powers with the Charlotte Hornets. You'll cry. In 1994, George The Iceman Gervin, opined, One thing I could do is finger roll.. The duo go back-and-forth attempting to one-up each other. We also will run features such as this one to complement certain players and moments throughout our series. We know that he's driven not by his success, but by his failure. Other shoe companies got steamrolled by Nike in the 1990s, but there were some outliers. Larry Bird and Michael Jordan going shot for shot? The production value is off the charts, the music is absolute perfection and there's just something goosebump-inducing about seeing the current greats and all-time legends competing against one another. Pitzel said he just got a royalty check recently. So instead of pitting Jordan against other lesser players, why not pit him against himself? We had to go all the way up to Phil Knight because it was so strong. And we cant use the music..
The sport has almost always had a treasure trove of stars to plop into various campaigns. After tearing his ACL in the Bulls first playoff game of the 2012 postseason, Derrick Rose saw his return wildly anticipated in Chicago the next season. The best shooter of the 1980s against the best player of the 1990s, one-upping each other for basketball dominance with the game that every kid played in the driveway and playground. There was only one problem. Among the featured players there are 15 NBA Championships, 7 MVPs, 31 All-NBA First Teamers, and 85 (!) While LeBron does a lot of serious think piece commercials these days, remember The LeBrons? As you may have noticed, there hasn't been much of an order to these commercials. When Kevin Durant was in high school, the Oklahoma City Thunder didn't exist. Everybody has a jingle or a line from a particular commercial in their childhood that they still remember or recite to this day. As easy as it was to get Cherokee Parks to snap, just imagine the fun Garnett could have with some less-hardened criminals. Mutombo may very well have the greatest laugh in the history of the world. Self-deprecating humor is rarely a bad idea for superstar athletes. But he also worked with Ben Wallace, Tim Duncan, Shaquille O'Neal and many others. While they're obviously acting, isn't this exactly how you picture the two guards interacting? Reason for Greatness: The way it looks completely and totally 100 percent real. Kids should want to wear the shoes they wear. Russell Westbrook and James Harden might not play for the same team any longer, but you can still view them working together with a simple trip to YouTube. Knowing Roses career path, its almost difficult to watch without getting a little sentimental. Im not a fan of this shift in media consumption especially when it comes to television commercials. And I was like, well, thats the idea. The futures here, at last Because by 1986, while Michael Jordan was already a star, he was about to leave everyone else on the ground. Sound off in the comments. Few lines in commercial history have ever been better, especially when delivered by Kevin Garnett in his athletic/acting prime. The faces are famous, and for good reason. While you're at it, prepare for a lot of appearances from Michael Jordan, LeBron James. We applied the same principle to athletes. The problem was his agency already had a storyboard for the commercial from the previous director, one they had shown to the big wigs at Quaker, which owned Gatorade.
That opening verse makes you think that Juelz had to have written the song purely for this commercial. And his kid (Jeffrey) loved it, which helped. The stars of yesteryear Jordan, Bird, Magic, Barkley, Hakeem are gone. or put them in chronological order. From the first play until the last. It was all just a fucking dream. That was one of my favorite presentation stories with Michael. That was Tyra Banks, fool!. He did not write that commercial, Riswold said with a laugh. And not well, even by 1986 standards. Although it wasnt in a position he likely imagined a few years ago, the fact that Rose kept going is commendable. His sons friend was also in the commercial and Pitzel said those checks put him through college. Thisin my personal opinionis the best of the bunch. A faithful contingent of Jordan fans remain steadfast in their belief that he has no equal. Something tells me that Dwyane Wade has actually had a nightmare about Kevin Durant at some point in his life, and the same can probably be said when the names are reversed. Its believed that Nike put together the series of ads in hopes of a James/Bryant clash in the 2010 NBA Finals. There's just something about the combination of the bouncing balls and the rhythm of the beat that works perfectly for Vince Carter, Jason Williams, Baron Davis and everyone else involved. In 1976, Tommy Heinsohn did a classic Miller Lite commercial with retired NBA referee Mendy Rudolph. Its called a unique selling proposition. Later on, Stephon Marbury had 50 Cent performing a remix of his classic Wanksta for this AND1 commercial. I didnt know too many people rushing out to buy those shoes, but everyone knew Grandmama. Remember when Sacha Baron Cohen was still relevant? Its hard to be as good as he is, Riswold said of Barkleys personality. Not just first and foremost, but first, foremost and everything else under the sun. But the poses, the dunks, the shots and the celebrations are so distinctly Jordan that it's only necessary for him to show up at the very end of the commercial. And before Nike was Nike, there was Converse. They own the song. : What's better than one LeBron? Reason for Greatness: The last shot (literally and, well, literally). Thanks to this commercial, we know how many game-winners Michael Jordan missed. Local commercials shouldnt be ignored. He had no idea who Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka were. The commercial is completely surreal. It was 1991. And swatting the Geico sign. Even Bill Buckner had a part when Jordan let a ball go through the wickets. For pure enjoyment, nothing can top the Lil Penny commercials with Chris Rock and Anfernee Hardaway. Best of all, we get to see that newspaper. Just be warned, you won't be able to stop for a long time once you start seeking them out. Allen Iverson carried Reebok like he carried the 76ers. Let's stick with Shaquille O'Neal for one more commercial. But this Kobe one with Jalen Rose for ESPN is my favorite. I was a kid in a candy store who was paid to be in a candy store, he says. Westbrook seems exactly like the kind of person who would take his discovery too far, and Harden would almost be guaranteed to remain silent until he just walks away. We actually get to see Lil' Penny walking down the street, which is really more like him gliding along with herky-jerky movements. So I took that song and went to Cliff Coleman, who was an arranger musician in Chicago. :Remembering the legend that was Cherokee Parks. His older son is the one trying to throw a behind-the-back pass. Welcome to theNBA 75,The Athletics countdown ofthe 75 best players in NBA history, in honor of the leagues diamond anniversary. Remember the barbershop commercials with Chris Webber, David Robinson, Dennis Rodman and Tim Hardaway? :The YouTube rabbit hole you'll discover when searching "San Antonio Spurs H-E-B.". Everywhere you looked on TV, there was a funny, well-made Nike ad. Wait, could it be Aunt Dorthy? Selling Barkley, Riswold said, was more interesting than selling shoelaces or cushioning of the shoes. Maybe once or twice.. It's all about challenges. Reason for Greatness: Jordan's dunk at the end. Armstrong did one for Sportmart, Bill Wennington for McDonalds. But it doesn't matter, because this whole thing is just infectiously happy. Especially Michael's shirt. If there were a Mount Rushmore of NBA commercials, this would certainly be on it. Its a perfect commercial. Reason for Greatness:"You shoulda dunked.". Who remembers the Mutumbo commercials for Adidas?
This is peak 90s from the Saved By the Bell-esque background music, to Birds signature behind-the-ear release, to Jordans ridiculous outfit. You were already sold after the perfect entry into the water, but the not-so-subtle underwater smile makes it that much better. The combination of Shaq, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Walton is obviously a recipe for greatness, but it's the Reebok-wearing big man that clearly steals the show. He and Kobe Bryant owned the league during a small portion of the 2000s before injuries took their toll, and T-Mac couldn't be corralled by any individual defender or group of individuals set on preventing him from putting the ball in the basket. It makes sense. Lees refrain Its gotta be the shoes and Jordans bemused reaction started building the image of Jordan as a lovable media darling. : We've all felt this way when playing Scrabble. Miller Lite commercials were like a gateway drug to the athlete commercial excess of the 1990s.
And when that's done, there's another one waiting to take its place, this time in the form of an even younger MJ. There have been thousands of memorable ads over the years, and here just a few that are worth of making it to the Commercial Hall of Fame.
Reason for Greatness: The inspiration behind one of basketball's greatest nicknames. What makes your spark plug different than spark plug X.
He was a basketball player. The stuff we did was a basic tenant of adverting, Riswold told me in 2020 during The Last Dance phenomenon.
The NBA has been especially stellar with their constant stream of ads. You'll get to hear the Mamba baffle a Chinese superduperstar, confuse Serena Williams and so much more.
Before the commercialization revolution of the 1980s and 90s, before every soft drink, fast-food restaurant and shoe company was employing athletes, before Jim Riswold, Spike Lee, Wieden + Kennedy and Nike turned Michael Jordan into a marketing dream, NBA commercials were mostly tame fare. Yes, in 1980, Earl Monroe was trying to hawk them on TV. You'll sit and wonder what some companies were thinking. Charles Barkley wasn't going to worry about what everyone thought. For me, it happens whenever I play my mom. Set aside a big chunk of your day.
Literally everything. Seriously, the police should think about hiring KG now that he's retired*. Its fun to go back in time and see who Nike was using as spokesmen. But right after it started airing, Jordan announced he was returning to basketball. Weve already shot this spot. Imagine buying a pair of low-top Jordache shoes thats Jordache, not Jordan to play basketball in? This is by no means the only commercial Blackmon/Lee starred in. Reason for Greatness: "He's a large man, Dwyane!". They were funny! B.J. But the real moment that pushes this commercial over the top is the one that comes at the very end. Its all about the song, with its uplifting message that delivers a punch without irony or cinematic allusions. I get paid to dunk a basketball, not raise your kids. As far as impact, Barkleys commercial has as much resonance as any from that era because it sparked a conversation. Everything about this commercial is brilliant, down to the for-some-inexplicable-reason-it's-hilarious use of the last names. : Harden's stare after peeling off a beard layer. A scoring stud, he could thrive in isolation sets or put on dazzling displays of shooting. If you ever wondered what it's like to be Michael Jordan, here you go. Especially Michael's shirt. He made something of himself, and despite suffering massive setbacks, hes still making a career for himself in the league, and is having a bit of a renaissance in Minnesota. And if you watch it a few more times, your heart may well grow a few sizes. It's amazing that certain basketball plays are so easily recognizable, even when it's a different person carrying out all the necessary movements. So I went from being like a goofball to a hero and now Im back to a goofball. The commercials, conceived by Riswold and his team and directed by Lee, changed the way athletes were marketed. In the era of on-demand streaming, commercials can often times get lost in the shuffle. You could make a convincing argument that it's the most recognizable basketball commercial of all time, and not too many people would argue with it. The late Kobe Bryant started with adidas, but who can forget his Kobe System commercials? He did so with Steve Nash, calling him the "MP3" before revealing that he couldn't understand the point guard who was "speaking in Canada.". Reason for Greatness: "Practice your free throwsa lot.". The shots getting increasingly ridiculous difficult? And that's exactly what makes it so great. All-Star appearances. They were intentionally thrown together randomly so you'd have a pleasant mix of serious/funny and new/old. That was Riswolds challenge.
We get to see the awesome camera shot at the beginning that gives perspective via a fire hydrant in the foreground. The NBA has run quite a few of these "Where Amazing Happens" commercials, and it's truly an accurate slogan for the league. Johnson played the role in an episode of Family Matters, teaming up with Steve Urkel for a 2-on-2 basketball tournament. While it's my personal favorite, there are plenty more for your viewing pleasure. There's a new twist on the classic "devil on one shoulder, angel on the other" approach to this commercial: The angel is actually converted to the dark side by the end of the spot, and that doesn't come as a surprise to anyone. : The inspiration behind one of basketball's greatest nicknames. Slater: At No. Lets say good-bye to the past The commercial isnt a work of art. Seriously though, why does Kareem have to be the one to hand him the cleaning accouterments while telling Shaq his efforts weren't good enough? : That laugh. Kobe deadpanning in front of celebrities is great, and I'dhighlyrecommend getting on YouTube and checking out the remaining seven levels of the Kobe System. Especially since they squared off on basketball's biggest stage during the 2012 NBA Finals.