# Emotional Basketball Beer Ads Budweiser's Dwyane Wade Ad Surprises the Star with 5 Visitors By Ell Smith | Published 2019-04-24 | Marketing Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dwyane-wade References: [adweek](https://www.adweek.com/creativity/budweiser-surprised-dwyane-wade-with-5-visitors-whose-lives-he-changed-for-the-better/) & [budweiser](https://www.budweiser.ca/en/) To commemorate his last season, [basketball star Dwyane Wade](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/beverage-campaign) has been swapping jerseys with other [NBA](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/victor-solomon-x-michelob-ultra) legends. In an effort to celebrate his legacy, both on the court and off, [Budweiser](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/labor-day-cans) surprised Wade with five unexpected people whose lives he's changed throughout his career. The sister of a Parkland shooting victim, a man with a troubled upbringing, a woman who never thought she'd go to college, a woman who lost her home to a fire, and Wade's own mother all approached Wade on the empty court. As the ad continues, it's revealed that Wade helped each of these visitors, by taking a family on a shopping spree after they lost everything in a fire or setting up a college fund. At the end of the ad, each visitor tells Wade that while they don't have a jersey to trade, they have a personal item they'd like him to have -- like a blazer a man wore to his first job interview, and the cap and gown of the college grad. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 0.9/10 - Popularity: 2% | Activity: 18% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Marketing](https://www.trendhunter.com/marketing) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Emotional Athlete Ads:** Using poignant storytelling to celebrate an athlete's career and legacy creates opportunities to connect with consumers on an emotional level. - **Personalized Marketing Campaigns:** Incorporating individual stories and experiences into marketing campaigns can create a more meaningful and impactful message for customers. - **Socially Conscious Branding:** Highlighting a brand's efforts to make a positive impact in society can resonate with consumers who prioritize social responsibility in their purchasing decisions. ### Where This Applies - **Beverage Industry:** Beverage companies can leverage emotional storytelling in marketing campaigns to create brand loyalty and connect with consumers on a deeper level. - **Athletic Apparel Industry:** By incorporating individual athlete stories and experiences in marketing campaigns, athletic apparel companies can create a more authentic and compelling message for customers. - **Home Goods Industry:** Home goods companies can highlight their efforts to make a positive impact in society by promoting partnerships with charitable organizations or donating a portion of proceeds to social causes. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Basketball Star Pre-Roll Boxes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/preroll-box.md) - [Basketball-Themed Beverage Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/athletic-brewing-company1.md) - [Immersive Floral Tributes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/2025-nba-finals.md) - [NBA-Honoring Alcohol Bottles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/victor-solomon-x-michelob-ultra.md) - [Inspirational Athlete Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/it-takes-more-to-get-this-far.md) - [Celebratory Beverage Ads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/legendary-stories.md) - [Wish-Granting Beer Ads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/2024-bud-light-super-bowl.md) - [Basketball Culture-Inspired Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/let-them-talk.md) - [Fathers Day Short Films](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/care-makes-a-dad.md)