The NBA is huge on always reminding the public who they are and why they’re great ("Where amazing happens"), but they certainly aren’t the only ones creating recognizable brands.
The NBA stars are much better integrated into pop culture than with other sports, but that doesn’t mean a good Manning brother’s ad isn’t always appreciated.
Scope out these 15 examples of athletes and professional leagues getting attention. My favourite is the puppet ad for the NBA Finals.
15 Examples of Athletvertising
15
Au Natural Olympians
Naked Powerade Athletes Show Their Muscles
14
Mom-Athlete Dairy Campaigns
Dara Torres Unveils New “Got Milk?” Ad
13
Turning Athletes into Smurfs
Nike ‘V is for Victory' Campaign
12
Olympic Advertising
Freddy Ads for Italian Athletes
11
Sibling Athlete Ads
Williams Sisters and Manning Brothers for Oreo
10
Artistic Athlete Photography
Dylan Coulter Helps With Olympic Withdrawal
9
Retro Movie Recreation
Athletes Recreate 'Risky Business' for ‘Guitar Hero'
8
Badass Sportsvertising
Pro Athletes Show Off Their Best Trick Moves for NFL 'Fantasy File' Promos
7
Extreme Sports Evolution Ads
From Primordial Ooze to Athlete in ESPN's Winter X Games Commercial
6
Olympic AIDS Prevention
UNAIDS Gives 100,000 Condoms to Beijing Olympic Athletes
5
Cyborg Athletes for Cell Phones
Beckham Goes 'Terminator' for the Motorola AURA
4
Oddball Olympians
ESPN Brazil's Unusual Athletes
3
Puppetized Pro-Athletes
LeBron James Gets Animated For Nike MVPuppets Commercial
2
Cheeky Laundry Ad Campaigns
Softlan Ultra Makes Clothes So Soft, Athletes Become Gay
1
Basketball Celebubranding
Kanye West's “Amazing” Chosen as NBA Playoffs Theme
Related Ideas
Athlete-Designed Skating Looks
Madison Chock Launches a Skating Wardrobe Brand
Modern Heritage-Based Streetwear
adidas Spotlights its 'Superstar Collection' for Fall and Winter
Celebrative Icon-Inspired Campaigns
adidas Originals Honors 55 Years with Superstar: The Original
Playful Sport-Centric Partnerships
NIKE x LEGO Group Announced a Multi-Year Partnership
Basketball Soft Drink Partnerships
Sprite Returned as the NBA's Official Global Soft Drink Partner
Anime Sports Apparel
My Hero Academia x NBA Capsule Merges Anime Fandom with Basketball Culture
Star-Studded Brand Campaigns
'Play With Icons' is Redefining Lacoste’s Global Identity
Custom 3D-Printed Basketball Shoes
adidas Revealed New Project R.A.P. Silhouette
Basketball Player-Supported Hydration Products
Stanley 1913 Collaborates with Caitlin Clark
High-Profile Live Performance Marketing
Rokid Delighted Folks with a High-Profile Marketing Event
Cross-Network Playoff Promotions
NHL and Multiple Broadcasters Launch a Playoff Marketing Campaign
Diversity-Celebrating Brand Campaigns
Champion Launches a Global ‘Champions for Champion’ Campaign
Single Shoe Services
adidas Launched a Service for Those Living with Leg Limb Differences
Tennis Brand Global Campaigns
Lacoste Relaunched Its 'Life Is a Beautiful' Sport Campaign
Immersive Soccer Hubs
adidas Unveiled its Toronto Brand Hub for the FIFA World Cup
Panda-Inspired Sport Campaigns
Panda Station Dresses Panda Statues in Tracksuits for an Activation
Football Icon-Backed Ads
Michelob ULTRA to Elevate the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ Fan Experience
Opulent Athletic Fashion Collaborations
The Balenciaga x NBA Collaboration is Limited-Edition
Tech Fashion Sport Campaigns
Athletic Intelligence is Here Debuts with Oakley Meta at Super Bowl
Basktball Athlete-Approved Makeup Ranges
NYX Professional Makeup Taps Lauren Betts
College-Focused Accessibility Campaigns
Apple Launched its 'I'm Not Remarkable' Video Ad
Humorous Sandwich Commercials
Jersey Mike's Subs Spotlights Eli Manning and Danny DeVito
Telenovela-Inspired Beauty Campaigns
e.l.f. Cosmetics' Big Game Ad Airs Ahead of Halftime
AI-Integrated Fragrance Campaigns
Leo Messi Debuts 'MESSI Platinum' in a Global Campaign
Celebrity Coffee Brand Campaigns
Nespresso Launched Its Vertuo World Campaign With Dua Lipa
Humanoid Robot Games
The Great Robot Olympics Reveals Both Promise and Prose in Ai Evolution
Dystopian AI Ads
The Debut Anthropic Super Bowl Ad Rejects Sponsored AI Answers
Football-Themed Hiring Campaigns
The NFL Links Draft Culture to Inclusive Hiring Practices
Soccer Star Battery Campaigns
Duracell Launched Its Messi Reboot Battery Campaign
Varsity Influencer Teams
UNC Turns Student-Athletes Into Social Media Monetization Experts
Customer-Starring Billboards
Bobbie's Campaign Spotlights Moms as "the OG Influencers"
Heroic Protein Commercials
OIKOS' Big Game Ad, The Big Hill, Stars Kathryn Hahn & Derrick Henry
Playful Tomato Athletes
The Heinz National Games Campaign Turns Tomato Stems into Sports Figures
Performance Basketball Footwear
Adidas Fear of God Athletics Basketball III Nods Signature Design
Branded Soccer Sponsorships
Coca-Cola is the Official Carbonated Soft Drink for Manchester United
Athlete Grooming Campaigns
Head & Shoulders Partners with MLS to Launch Soccer-Focused Campaign
Creator-Led Skincare Ads
The BYOMA Shorttime Show Celebrates Short Kings and Queens
Soccer-Centric Soda Spots
Pepsi's 'Refresh the Game' Campaign Brings Soccer Icons Together
Soccer-Themed Snack Branding
These Mondelēz Products Get Fans Ready for the World Cup 2026
Kickoff Footwear Commercials
Skechers' Big Game Ad Stars Sofía Vergara
Limited-Edition Team Cans
Sprite x Unrivaled Brings a New Co-Branded Can Collection
Athlete-Backed Basketball Collections
Wilson Continues Its Collaboration with Caitlin Clark
Personal Care-Focused Olympic Initiatives
Procter & Gamble Hosts the Champions Clubhouse
Cinematic Sneaker Campaigns
Adidas Originals Superstar Campaign Features Icons Such as Jennie
Cleaning Mascot Retirements
Mr. Clean Announced He's Stepping Aside After 68 Years
Fashion Sports Partnerships
The Coach x WNBA Partnership Champions Style and Self-Expression
Basketball Player Minifigures
Nike x the LEGO Group Partner with A’ja Wilson for 'Clicked In'
Celebrity-Backed Luxury Jewelry Campaigns
Tiffany & Co. Runs an Ad with Natalie Portman
Athlete-Inspired LEGO Sets
LEGO Launches Collectible Football Sets with Messi and Ronaldo
Soccer Snack Collaborations
Mondelēz Partners with Athletes to Launch Limited-Edition Snacks
Licensed Flavor Collaborations
Conagra Blends Celebrity and Brand Partnerships Into Snacks
Cross-Disciplinary Campaign Films
Levi's 'Behind Every Original' is Supported by 'Backstory'
Large-Scale Basketball Events
The Foot Locker Takeover is Timed with the NBA All-Star Weekend
Next-Gen Athlete-Starring Ads
Nike Presents its Cinematic 'Why Do It?' Ad Campaign
Paparazzi-Style Cereal Shots
Photos of William Shatner Eating Raisin Bran Tease a Big Game Ad
Musician-Led Beverage Campaigns
poppi Tapped Charli xcx and Rachel Sennott for the Super Bowl
Esteem-Boosting Campaigns
The Dove Super Bowl Ad Champions Girls’ Body Confidence in Sports
Confidence-Inspiring Youth Beauty Campaigns
Dove Launches 'The Game is Ours' for FIFA World Cup
AI Sports Research Platforms
Ten Toes Launched Its Ten Beat Sports Fan AI Intelligence Platform
Multi-Year Footwear Partnerships
Nike and LEGO Team Up for a New Kid-Centric Collaboration
Football-Focused Brand Platforms
Pepsi Football Nation Seeks to Unify the Brand's Partnerships
Burger Ad Campaigns
Burger King’s New Campaign Suggests Even Babies Can’t Resist the Whopper
High-Level Energy Drink Partnerships
C4 Energy is the Official Energy Drink Partner of NBA Europe
Consolidated Sports Innovation Engines
Nike is Focusing Its Innovation Efforts Across Its Brands
Early Allergen Exposure Ads
The Square Baby Super Bowl Spot Promotes a Science-Backed Message
AI-Driven Sports Startups
IBM Launches Its Sports Tech Startup Challenge
Athlete-Backed Beverage Campaigns
PepsiCo and NFL Players Debut 'Tailgate Crashers'
Sporty Luxe Fashion Capsules
The Balenciaga x NBA Drops Basketball-Themed Apparel and Accessories
Intense Elemental-Inspired Sportswear Spots
Columbia Introduced its 'Engineered for Whatever' Ad
Athlete Marketing Platforms
Faves Was Built by Pro Athletes and Fintech/Adtech Experts
Dermatologist-Recommended Skincare Brand Collabs
CeraVe x NBA Form a Multiyear Partnership
Athlete-Driven Hydration Campaigns
Gatorade x Kendrick Lamar Partner for 'Lose More. Win More.'
Polo Shirt Marketing Campaigns
U.s. Polo Assn. Launches a Global Campaign Highlighting Its Origins
Photocopied Fast Food Campaigns
McDonald's Office Delivery Ads Scanned Popular Menu Items
Entertainment-Powered Retail Experiences
AT&T Brings Toy Story 5 to Interactive Store Activations
Football-Focused Sofa Campaigns
Pepsi Presents the Refresh the Game Campaign with Icons
NBA Shoe Collaborations
ALDO Partners with NBA Athlete Jordan Clarkson for its Editorial Capsule
Flavor Anthem Ads
Frank's RedHot is Bringing Flavor to the Big Game with Its Eat The GOAT Campaign
Retro Sports Drink Revivals
Gatorade partners with Stranger Things to relaunch its 1987 campaign
Athlete-Led Marketing Strategies
Forta Cosmetics Uses Athlete Network to Launch Its Setting Spray
Joyful Sport Campaigns
Dove's Super Bowl Ad, The Game Is Ours, Celebrates Girls' Confidence
AI-Aged Executive Spoof Ads
AiCandy's Energym Ad Reimagines Tech Moguls as Instructors
Auto Football Campaigns
Hyundai Motors Launched Its FIFA World Cup 2026 Brand Film With Atlas
AI-Centric Brand Campaigns
Openai Rolls Out ChatGPT’s First Major Brand Campaign
Nostalgic Brand Ambassador Revivals
Dos Equis Reintroduces the Most Interesting Man in the World
Basketball Athlete-Backed Water Campaigns
Saratoga Spring Water Partners with Skylar Diggins
Beauty Brand Jersey Partnerships
IPSY Became the Official Jersey Partner of the Las Vegas Aces
Sports-Inspired Beverage Collaborations
Kung Fu Tea and Red Bull Launch Soccer-Themed Bubble Tea
90s-Inspired Soccer Campaigns
adidas Unveiled its 'Backyard Legends' Film Ahead of FIFA 2026
Creative Eerie-Themed Soccer Campaigns
Nike Football Reimagines Soccer with 'Scary Good'
Athletic Event-Timed Tech Campaigns
TCL Ran a Comprehensive Ad Campaign During the Olympics
Immersive Floral Tributes
ESPN Honors the 2025 NBA Finals with Mr. Flower Fantastic
Empowering Soccer-Themed Cultural Campaigns
LOTTO Launches the Legends Begin with LOTTO Campaign
Collective Viewing-Celebrating Ads
Hisense Debuts 'Innovating a Brighter Life' for FIFA 2026
AI-Enhanced Y2K Ads
Starwash by Carl's Jr. Recalls a 2000s Ad with Paris Hilton
Canadian Soccer Style Campaigns
Levi's Canada Launched Its World Cup Campaign Starring Kaila Novak
Gaming Style Capsules
The Nike x Martine Rose Campaign Spotlights Esports Athletes as Modern Icons
Drop-Culture Sport Campaigns
Easton and Dick's Launched Its Limited Edition Equipment Drop
Betting Sports Commercials
Kalshi Debuted Its Giannis Antetokounmpo NBA Finals Ad
Unique Co-Designed Capsules
Etsy Partners With WNBA Players for The 'Icon Collection'
Vintage-Style Athleisure Collections
Steinmann Brothers Launch NBA and Man City Lines
Empowered Athlete Campaigns
Nike's "Why Do It?" Reintroduces "Just Do It" to a New Generation
Fan Culture Activations
StubHub Launched Its World Cup Cuts a Multi-City Barbershop Campaign
Football-Centric Hero Campaigns
Under Armour's 'We Are Football' Campaign Has a Star-Studded Cast
Female Athlete-Fronted Luxury Campaigns
The Coach x WNBA Campaign Merges Fashion & Basketball
Hometown Athlete Branding
Hershey’s Released Limited-Edition Chocolate Bars for Christian Pulisic
Athlete-Branded Outdoor Appliances
Ninja Launched a New Campaign For Upgraded Backyard Cooking
Athlete Arrival Fashion Activations
ATP Introduces Athlete Arrivals to Spotlight Players Style
Horror-Inspired Sports Campaigns
Nike Presents the Scary Good Campaign with Satire Themes
Humorous Basketball Talent Campaigns
DICK'S Sporting Goods and Nike Debut 'The Scouts are Out'
Celebrity-Supported Luxe Fashion Campaigns
BOSS Taps Renowned Public Figures for Fall 2025
Mascot-Forward Newspaper Campaigns
Ellie the Elephant Becomes a New York Times Subscriber
Interactive Game Advertisements
Samsung Ads GameBreaks Encourage Deeper Engagement
Branded Content Partnerships
LG Electronics and Fantasy Life Renew and Expand Their Partnership
Athlete-Supported Social-First Scalp Campaigns
CeraVe Taps Carmelo Anthony as Its Head Coach
Celeb-Packed Humorous Beer Campaigns
Bud Light's Keg Commercial is Airing for Super Bowl LX
Hair Salon-Powered Sports Campaigns
Great Clips Ties Its Latest Campaign to the Stanley Cup
Dynamic In-Game Integrations
Adrenaline Interactive Unveiled Brand Fusion AI
Sports Advertising Moments
Genius Sports Found Emotional Sports Moments Can Double Ad Recall
Athlete-Approved Football Boot Designs
Nike Partners with Kylian Mbappé for the New Mercurial Boot
Purpose-Driven Brand Storytelling Platforms
Hellonation Has Debuted Its Edvertising Model
Year-Round Basketball Platform
Foot Locker Launches Its Hoops Lives Here Campaign
Self-Aware Big Game Ads
Fanatics Sportsbook's First-Ever Super Bowl Spot is 'Bet on Kendall'
Youth Athlete-Celebrating Initiatives
Gatorade Pays Homage to Two Exceptional High School Athletes
Agentic Marketing Platforms
Microsoft and Publicis Build AI-Driven Marketing Ecosystems
Generational Wellness Campaigns
Sports Research Evolved Its Marketing into a Cultural Movement
Consumer Brand Launches
Labor Smart Announced Culturally-Driven Product Collaborations
Winning Comment Campaigns
Dos Equis Invites Fans to Submit Legend Lines to Appear in a Commercial
Sporty Collaborative Fashion Capsules
Born X Raised Launches a Collaborative Sports Range
Nostalgic Boy Band Commercials
T-Mobile Tapped Backstreet Boys for the Super Bowl This Year
Athlete-Backed Educational Food Programs
Electrolux Group Tapped Brandon Miller for Food Heroes
Basketball Legend Dolls
Barbie's LeBron James Doll is the Brand's First Kenbassador
Football Challenge Campaigns
Coca-Cola Beat the Icon Fantasy Premier League Lets Fans Face Stars
Worldwide Basketball Sponsorship Agreements
Linglong Tire is Partnering with the Chicago Bulls
Athlete Food Sponsorships
Think Turkey Tapped AJ Lawson for Its Basketball Season Campaign
Cheeky Celeb-Inspired Tool Campaigns
Bosch Launches 'Just a Guy' for the Super Bowl
Brandless Packaging Campaigns
McDonald’s Tested a Name-Free 'Famous Order' Promotion
Motivational Athlete Campaigns
Lionel Messi and Patrick Mahomes Star in adidas' 'You Got This'
Humorous High-Intensity Campaigns
Nike Launched its Star-Studded 'Rip the Script' Video Campaign
Global Creative Billboard Competition
Gymnation Launches ‘Your Ad. Our Billboard’ Competition