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
Custom 3D-Printed Basketball Shoes
adidas Revealed New Project R.A.P. Silhouette
Basketball Soft Drink Partnerships
Sprite Returned as the NBA's Official Global Soft Drink Partner
Cross-Network Playoff Promotions
NHL and Multiple Broadcasters Launch a Playoff Marketing Campaign
Artist-Centric Networking Events
Adidas x SNIPES Unveil The NYC Superstar & Empower Artists
Unique AI-Generated Ads
Skinny Mobile Introduces Its New AI-Powered Brand Ambassador
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
Empowering Makeup Brand Campaigns
JuJu Watkins Stars in NYX Professional Makeup’s New Campaign
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
Diversity-Celebrating Brand Campaigns
Champion Launches a Global ‘Champions for Champion’ Campaign
Athlete-Starring Footwear Campaigns
DICK’S Sporting Goods Unveiled its 'Speed Shopping' Campaign
Individuality-Focused Brand Campaigns
Adidas Originals' New Campaign Champions Timeless Classics
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
College-Focused Accessibility Campaigns
Apple Launched its 'I'm Not Remarkable' Video Ad
Basktball Athlete-Approved Makeup Ranges
NYX Professional Makeup Taps Lauren Betts
Soccer Athlete-Starring Beauty Campaigns
e.l.f. Partners with the NWSL's Jess Carter
Humorous Sandwich Commercials
Jersey Mike's Subs Spotlights Eli Manning and Danny DeVito
Dynamic Basketball-Informed Marketing Campaigns
March Madness' New Campaign Features NCAA Athletes
AI-Integrated Fragrance Campaigns
Leo Messi Debuts 'MESSI Platinum' in a Global Campaign
Telenovela-Inspired Beauty Campaigns
e.l.f. Cosmetics' Big Game Ad Airs Ahead of Halftime
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
Single Shoe Services
adidas Launched a Service for Those Living with Leg Limb Differences
Friendly Fandom Campaigns
Heineken Kicked Off Fans Have More Friends with a Fun Social Experiment
Athlete-Inspired LEGO Sets
LEGO Launches Collectible Football Sets with Messi and Ronaldo
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
Beauty Brand-Sponsored Sports Events
Maybelline New York Becomes WNBA's Official Beauty Partner
Branded Soccer Sponsorships
Coca-Cola is the Official Carbonated Soft Drink for Manchester United
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
Imaginative Fantasy-Inspired Campaigns
Canva Spotlights its Creative Tools Ahead of Halloween
Kickoff Footwear Commercials
Skechers' Big Game Ad Stars Sofía Vergara
Athlete Grooming Campaigns
Head & Shoulders Partners with MLS to Launch Soccer-Focused Campaign
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
Basketball-Themed Beverage Campaigns
Athletic Brewing Company Debuts 'From Tip-Off to Title'
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
Refreshing Basketball-Themed Beverage Campaigns
Coca-Cola Zero Sugar Debuts a Fan-Focused Campaign
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'
Athlete-Led Marketing Strategies
Forta Cosmetics Uses Athlete Network to Launch Its Setting Spray
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
Football-Themed Hiring Campaigns
The NFL Links Draft Culture to Inclusive Hiring Practices
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
Anti-AI Marketing Campaigns
Cadbury 5 Star Launched Its 'Make AI Mediocre Again' Initiative
Burger Ad Campaigns
Burger King’s New Campaign Suggests Even Babies Can’t Resist the Whopper
Fitness Earphones Campaigns
'Listen to Your Heart' Unites Sports Icons for Powerful Campaign
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
Beauty Brand Jersey Partnerships
IPSY Became the Official Jersey Partner of the Las Vegas Aces
Athlete-Backed Beverage Campaigns
PepsiCo and NFL Players Debut 'Tailgate Crashers'
Intense Elemental-Inspired Sportswear Spots
Columbia Introduced its 'Engineered for Whatever' Ad
Sporty Luxe Fashion Capsules
The Balenciaga x NBA Drops Basketball-Themed Apparel and Accessories
Athlete Marketing Platforms
Faves Was Built by Pro Athletes and Fintech/Adtech Experts
Celebrity-Backed Luxury Jewelry Campaigns
Tiffany & Co. Runs an Ad with Natalie Portman
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.'
Football-Focused Sofa Campaigns
Pepsi Presents the Refresh the Game Campaign with Icons
Bold Athlete-Centric Campaigns
C4 Energy Debuts 'Made for Athletes. Certified for Sport'
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
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
Nostalgic Brand Ambassador Revivals
Dos Equis Reintroduces the Most Interesting Man in the World
AI-Centric Brand Campaigns
Openai Rolls Out ChatGPT’s First Major Brand Campaign
Basketball Athlete-Backed Water Campaigns
Saratoga Spring Water Partners with Skylar Diggins
Polo Shirt Marketing Campaigns
U.s. Polo Assn. Launches a Global Campaign Highlighting Its Origins
Football Athlete-Headed Footwear Campaigns
HEYDUDE and Travis Hunter Launch Unlike Anything
Creative Eerie-Themed Soccer Campaigns
Nike Football Reimagines Soccer with 'Scary Good'
Basketball Culture-Inspired Campaigns
Under Armour x RDCWorld will Debut 'Let Them Talk'
Immersive Floral Tributes
ESPN Honors the 2025 NBA Finals with Mr. Flower Fantastic
Athletic Event-Timed Tech Campaigns
TCL Ran a Comprehensive Ad Campaign During the Olympics
AI-Enhanced Y2K Ads
Starwash by Carl's Jr. Recalls a 2000s Ad with Paris Hilton
High-Concept Brand Campaigns
The ‘Legitimate You’ Campaign Proves Every Brand Can Look Pro
Gaming Style Capsules
The Nike x Martine Rose Campaign Spotlights Esports Athletes as Modern Icons
Unique Co-Designed Capsules
Etsy Partners With WNBA Players for The 'Icon Collection'
Branded Pub Crawls
The No Lay's, No Game 'Lay's Crawl' Entices Soccer Fans to Pubs
Music Icon-Supported AI Campaigns
Music Stars Spotlight Workday's AI-Powered Enterprise Solutions
Empowered Athlete Campaigns
Nike's "Why Do It?" Reintroduces "Just Do It" to a New Generation
Football-Centric Hero Campaigns
Under Armour's 'We Are Football' Campaign Has a Star-Studded Cast
Game-Inspired Energy Drink Campaigns
Monster Energy Piggybacks on the New Call of Duty Release
Female Athlete-Fronted Luxury Campaigns
The Coach x WNBA Campaign Merges Fashion & Basketball
Athlete-Branded Outdoor Appliances
Ninja Launched a New Campaign For Upgraded Backyard Cooking
Probiotic Soda Basketball Partnerships
The poppi NBA Partnership Has Expanded with New Branding
Inspirational Athlete Campaigns
POWERADE Debuts the 'IT TAKES MORE TO GET THIS FAR' Campaign
Cat-Starred Watch Campaigns
Hublot Taps Karl Lagerfeld's Choupette for the Big Bang Watch Ad
Post-Game Breakfast Campaigns
McDonald's Flipped Its Ads Sideways for Super Bowl Recovery
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
Sweat-Reducing Advisers
The Old Spice Guy Supported Big Game Fans with the No Sweat Predictor
Home Improvement-Branded Games
Lowe's Partners with EA SPORTS to Make In-Game Appearances
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
Nba Star-Backed Jewelry Campaigns
David Yurman's Men's Jewelry Campaign Spotlights 'Curb Chain'
Collegiate Athlete-Supporting Brands
C4 Energy Signs 128 Collegiate Basketball Players
Mascot-Forward Newspaper Campaigns
Ellie the Elephant Becomes a New York Times Subscriber
High-Level Energy Drink Partnerships
C4 Energy is the Official Energy Drink Partner of the NBA
Interactive Game Advertisements
Samsung Ads GameBreaks Encourage Deeper Engagement
Branded Content Partnerships
LG Electronics and Fantasy Life Renew and Expand Their Partnership
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
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
Basketball Athlete-Backed Luggage Campaigns
Samsonite Partners with Payton Pritchard
Youth Athlete-Celebrating Initiatives
Gatorade Pays Homage to Two Exceptional High School Athletes
Self-Aware Big Game Ads
Fanatics Sportsbook's First-Ever Super Bowl Spot is 'Bet on Kendall'
Generational Wellness Campaigns
Sports Research Evolved Its Marketing into a Cultural Movement
Consumer Brand Launches
Labor Smart Announced Culturally-Driven Product Collaborations
Taekwondo Champion Sports Campaigns
adidas’ Latest Installment of 'You Got This' Stars Skylar Park
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
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
Whimsical Soccer-Themed Illustrations
Visa Commissions Art in Connection to FIFA World Cup
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 Losers-Focused Campaigns
Miller Lite Introduces the League Losers Billboards