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
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
Athlete-Led Brand Co-Creation
LI-NING and Stephen Curry Partner on Product Development
Vintage Football Jerseys
Disney x Adidas x Brain Dead World Cup 2026 Drop Football-Themed Apparel
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
Custom 3D-Printed Basketball Shoes
adidas Revealed New Project R.A.P. Silhouette
Basketball Player-Supported Hydration Products
Stanley 1913 Collaborates with Caitlin Clark
Cross-Network Playoff Promotions
NHL and Multiple Broadcasters Launch a Playoff Marketing Campaign
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
Tennis Brand Global Campaigns
Lacoste Relaunched Its 'Life Is a Beautiful' Sport Campaign
Single Shoe Services
adidas Launched a Service for Those Living with Leg Limb Differences
Immersive Soccer Hubs
adidas Unveiled its Toronto Brand Hub for the FIFA World Cup
Fashion-Inspired Food Marketing
Magnum Blends Beauty, Music and Luxury Culture into Its Brand
Beer Brand Campaigns
AB InBev Launched Its 'Cheers to Bars' Campaign for the FIFA World Cup 2026
Panda-Inspired Sport Campaigns
Panda Station Dresses Panda Statues in Tracksuits for an Activation
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
Licensed Flavor Collaborations
Conagra Blends Celebrity and Brand Partnerships Into Snacks
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
Entertainment-Powered Retail Experiences
AT&T Brings Toy Story 5 to Interactive Store Activations
Football-Themed Hiring Campaigns
The NFL Links Draft Culture to Inclusive Hiring Practices
Soccer Star Battery Campaigns
Duracell Launched Its Messi Reboot Battery Campaign
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
Soccer Streetwear Collaborations
Carré and Coca-Cola Launched a Soccer Streetwear Collection
Immersive Sports Marketing Campaigns
BMO's "Grow the Game" Campaign Celebrates the FIFA World Cup
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-Themed Snack Branding
These Mondelēz Products Get Fans Ready for the World Cup 2026
Kickoff Footwear Commercials
Skechers' Big Game Ad Stars Sofía Vergara
Playable Brand Universes
adidas and Brawl Stars Connect Gaming, Apparel and Live Fan Experiences
Limited-Edition Team Cans
Sprite x Unrivaled Brings a New Co-Branded Can Collection
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
AI-Enhanced Sports Clubs
IBM's AI Sports Club Transforms Physical Game into Data-Driven Broadcasts
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
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
Esteem-Boosting Campaigns
The Dove Super Bowl Ad Champions Girls’ Body Confidence in Sports
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
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
AI-Driven Sports Startups
IBM Launches Its Sports Tech Startup Challenge
Early Allergen Exposure Ads
The Square Baby Super Bowl Spot Promotes a Science-Backed Message
Confidence-Inspiring Youth Beauty Campaigns
Dove Launches 'The Game is Ours' for FIFA World Cup
Sporty Luxe Fashion Capsules
The Balenciaga x NBA Drops Basketball-Themed Apparel and Accessories
Athlete-Backed Beverage Campaigns
PepsiCo and NFL Players Debut 'Tailgate Crashers'
Intense Elemental-Inspired Sportswear Spots
Columbia Introduced its 'Engineered for Whatever' Ad
RGB-Themed Pop-Up Activations
Hisense Debuted a Pop-Up FIFA Activation at Hudson Yard
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
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
Auto Football Campaigns
Hyundai Motors Launched Its FIFA World Cup 2026 Brand Film With Atlas
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
Photocopied Fast Food Campaigns
McDonald's Office Delivery Ads Scanned Popular Menu Items
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
Beauty Brand Jersey Partnerships
IPSY Became the Official Jersey Partner of the Las Vegas Aces
Global Canadian-Athlete-Starring Campaigns
adidas' Spotlights Jonathan David for its FIFA Campaign
Canadian Soccer Style Campaigns
Levi's Canada Launched Its World Cup Campaign Starring Kaila Novak
90s-Inspired Soccer Campaigns
adidas Unveiled its 'Backyard Legends' Film Ahead of FIFA 2026
AI Sports Research Platforms
Ten Toes Launched Its Ten Beat Sports Fan AI Intelligence Platform
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
Betting Sports Commercials
Kalshi Debuted Its Giannis Antetokounmpo NBA Finals Ad
Empowering Soccer-Themed Cultural Campaigns
LOTTO Launches the Legends Begin with LOTTO Campaign
Mobile Brand Experiences
M&M's Brings an Interactive Caravan to the Tour De France
Collective Viewing-Celebrating Ads
Hisense Debuts 'Innovating a Brighter Life' for FIFA 2026
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
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
Hometown Athlete Branding
Hershey’s Released Limited-Edition Chocolate Bars for Christian Pulisic
Sports Lifestyle Retail
Nordstrom Blends World Cup Fashion with Immersive Pop-Ups
Empowered Athlete Campaigns
Nike's "Why Do It?" Reintroduces "Just Do It" to a New Generation
Athlete-Supported Social-First Scalp Campaigns
CeraVe Taps Carmelo Anthony as Its Head Coach
Sports-Inspired Beverage Collaborations
Kung Fu Tea and Red Bull Launch Soccer-Themed Bubble Tea
Football-Centric Hero Campaigns
Under Armour's 'We Are Football' Campaign Has a Star-Studded Cast
Branded Sports Documentaries
Dick's Follows Three WNBA Stars in a Six-Part Documentary Series
Humorous High-Intensity Campaigns
Nike Launched its Star-Studded 'Rip the Script' Video Campaign
Athlete-Branded Outdoor Appliances
Ninja Launched a New Campaign For Upgraded Backyard Cooking
Sports Advertising Moments
Genius Sports Found Emotional Sports Moments Can Double Ad Recall
Athlete Arrival Fashion Activations
ATP Introduces Athlete Arrivals to Spotlight Players Style
Sports Fandom Beauty
E.l.f. Creates Immersive Beauty Experiences Around Global Soccer
Fictional Basketball Universes
NINJA BASKETBALL ARMY is an Story Brand Set in an Alternate Japan
Horror-Inspired Sports Campaigns
Nike Presents the Scary Good Campaign with Satire Themes
Fan Culture Activations
StubHub Launched Its World Cup Cuts a Multi-City Barbershop Campaign
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
Dynamic Athlete-Brand Partnerships
PUMA Onboards Labaron Philon Jr. to Its PUMA Hoops Roster
Mascot-Forward Newspaper Campaigns
Ellie the Elephant Becomes a New York Times Subscriber
Interactive Game Advertisements
Samsung Ads GameBreaks Encourage Deeper Engagement
Celeb-Packed Humorous Beer Campaigns
Bud Light's Keg Commercial is Airing for Super Bowl LX
Health-Focused Sports Activations
Raisin Bran Brings Gut Health to Major League Pickleball
Dynamic In-Game Integrations
Adrenaline Interactive Unveiled Brand Fusion AI
Athlete-Approved Football Boot Designs
Nike Partners with Kylian Mbappé for the New Mercurial Boot
Year-Round Basketball Platform
Foot Locker Launches Its Hoops Lives Here Campaign
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'
Agentic Marketing Platforms
Microsoft and Publicis Build AI-Driven Marketing Ecosystems
Strategic Athletic Club Branding
Club Athletic Harbours Ambitious Plans for National Expansion
Generational Wellness Campaigns
Sports Research Evolved Its Marketing into a Cultural Movement
Costumed Fan Stunts
AXE's Mystery Wiener Couple Captivated Fans at the World Cup
AI-Powered Native Video Ads
TripleLift Powers GUESS FRAGRANCES Big Game Campaign
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
AI Brand Builders
BrandNest AI Creates Complete Brand Identities In Under A Minute
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
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
Cheeky Celeb-Inspired Tool Campaigns
Bosch Launches 'Just a Guy' for the Super Bowl
Logo-Based Health Campaigns
NHS Blood and Transplant Launches Logo Campaign for Blood Donations
Brandless Packaging Campaigns
McDonald’s Tested a Name-Free 'Famous Order' Promotion
Global Creative Billboard Competition
Gymnation Launches ‘Your Ad. Our Billboard’ Competition