# Puppetvertising NBA Champion Kobe Pokes Fun at LeBron in Nike Ad (UPDATE) By Tisah Tucknott | Published 2009-06-18 | Pop Culture Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/basketball-kobe-lebron-nike References: [loudreams](http://www.loudreams.com/2009/06/16/lebron-james-and-kobe-bryant-the-mvps-championship-celebration/) The final commercial of a series of puppet advertisements by [Nike](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nike-x-lego-group) feature basketball stars Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. Although the dream match-up of the finals would have been between James and Bryant, Lebron James' team was unfortunately cut before they could make it to this stage. This cute ad shows Kobe Bryant celebrating with confetti while LeBron James is quietly eating his cereal. **Implications** - Commercials that poke fun at icons such as [Kobe Bryant and Lebron James](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/let-them-talk) are a way for companies to show that competition can be fun. Advertisements that are funny and use unique props like puppets also have the ability to be memorable and resonate in the viewer's mind. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 0.7/10 - Popularity: 2% | Activity: 12% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Pop Culture](https://www.trendhunter.com/popculture) > [Humor](https://www.trendhunter.com/humor) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Humorous Advertisements:** Companies can create funny ads that use playful rivalry to engage and entertain consumers. - **Unique Props in Advertising:** Using distinctive props like puppets in commercials can captivate audiences and make brands stand out. - **Memorable Advertising Campaigns:** Creating ads that are memorable and leave a lasting impression on viewers can help companies build brand recognition and loyalty. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Sports Apparel and Footwear:** Brands in the sports apparel and footwear industry can use humorous ads with icons like NBA players to increase brand visibility and appeal to consumers. - **Advertising and Marketing:** Companies in the advertising and marketing industry can create distinctive and memorable campaigns that showcase their creative capabilities and attract clients. - **Entertainment and Media:** Entertainment and media companies can leverage humorous and memorable advertisements to engage their target audience and drive viewership or readership. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Basketball Legend Dolls](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lebron-james-doll.md) - [AR-Enabled Basketball Player Experiences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cryptocom.md) - [Playful Sport-Centric Partnerships](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nike-x-lego-group.md) - [Humorous Game-Day Chocolate Commercials](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chocolate-lava.md) - [Basketball Star-Backed Chip Flavors](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/flamin-hot.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) - [Quirky Spoof Collectibles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fight-teeth.md) - [Puppet-Starring Oat Milk Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/new-norm-al-show.md)