# Inventive Athlete-Inspired Ads Kobe Bryant Stars in This Buzzing, Inventive Foot Locker Ad By Itai Buenahora | Published 2014-03-13 | Updated 2014-03-16 | Fashion Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/athlete-inspired-ads References: [creativecriminals](http://creativecriminals.com/foot-locker/kobe-bryant) & [footlocker](http://www.footlocker.com/) [Los Angeles Lakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/los-angeles-lakers-1) star shooting guard Kobe Bryant stars in a this athlete-inspired [Foot Locker](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/foot-locker-takeover) commercial, showcasing his multitude of talents and insinuating that there really isn’t anything this basketball guru can do. The ad shows a hardworking Kobe hand-constructing the grandest of grand pianos, the ‘Kobe Piano,’ one Lionel Richie is featured playing himself, and is said to even make his tears cry tears. “The sound alone could make history more historic” the narrator states, parodying the innovative concept. Then, Mr. Bryant hits the lab, with the “best invention since the lightbulb,”—the ‘Kobe Lightbulb,’ deemed “as unbreakable as his broken records.” The comedic Foot Locker commercial exemplifies his limitless abilities, all and all introducing the new ‘Kobe 9 Collection,' his new footwear and apparel compilation that certainly deserved the honorary presentation given within the depths of this advertisement. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 0.5/10 - Popularity: 1% | Activity: 7% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/fashion) > [Shoes](https://www.trendhunter.com/shoes) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Athlete-inspired Ads:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create athlete-inspired ads that showcase the talents and capabilities of a specific sports figure, capturing consumer attention and driving brand recognition. - **Inventive Concepts:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop inventive concepts that parody existing products or ideas, creating a unique and engaging advertising campaign. - **Celebrity Collaborations:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Collaborate with celebrities to create unique products or concepts that generate buzz and increase brand visibility. ### Who This Affects Most - **Sports Apparel:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Introduce new sports apparel lines that are inspired by athlete achievements, showcasing their talents and capturing consumer interest. - **Advertising and Marketing:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create innovative and engaging advertising campaigns that captivate audiences and stand out from competitors. - **Footwear Industry:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Explore new footwear designs and technologies to create products that are unique, durable, and generate excitement among consumers. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Athlete-Starring Footwear Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/speed-shopping.md) - [Next-Gen Athlete-Starring Ads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/why-do-it-ad.md) - [Athlete-Backed Shoe Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/awaken-your-madness.md) - [Reimagined Holiday Spots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nba-jingle-hoops.md) - [Large-Scale Basketball Events](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/foot-locker-takeover.md) - [Athlete-Honoring Lifestyle Footwear](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/linen-edition.md) - [Athlete-Approved Performance Shoes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kai3-performance-shoe.md) - [Bold Sports Apparel Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/we-got-now-1.md) - [Motivational Athlete Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/adidas-you-got-this.md)