# Basketball-Inspired Soft Drinks Sprite & Athlete LeBron James Launched the 'King James' Soft Drink By Ady Floyd | Published 2015-07-01 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/king-james References: [thedieline](http://www.thedieline.com/blog/2015/6/29/sprite-lebron-mix) & [coca-colacompany](http://www.coca-colacompany.com/press-center/press-releases/sprite-brings-back-popular-flavor-created-with-lebron-james) [Sprite](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sprite-lymonade-legacy) and LeBron James collaborated to produce this one-of-a-kind soft drink mix called 'King James.' The flavor-packed [Sprite beverage](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sonic-sprite) will combine the fruitiness of cherry and orange into one delightfully refreshing soda. The package will also be a recreation of Sprite's original design. The traditional light green bottle will remain as such but the wrap-around label will be an eye-catching crimson red color. The label will also feature [LeBron's initials](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lebron-xxii) in the background. However, the best aspect of the label can be seen with the use of a crown sitting atop the soda's name LeBron's Mix. The crown reflects the basketball star's nickname -- King James. The new Sprite flavor will be available in both bottled and canned forms. LeBron says the collaboration was "all about showing gratitude to my fans by sharing one of my personal favorites — Sprite with cherry and orange." ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.0/10 - Popularity: 7% | Activity: 14% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 70% men, 30% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Gen Alpha, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Drinking](https://www.trendhunter.com/drinking) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Basketball-inspired Soft Drinks:** Opportunity: Explore the market for other soft drink collaborations with popular athletes to create unique flavor combinations. - **Refreshing Fruit Flavors:** Opportunity: Develop new soft drink flavors that combine unexpected fruit combinations for a delightful refreshment experience. - **Celebrity Branded Beverages:** Opportunity: Partner with celebrities to create their own branded beverages, leveraging their influence and personal taste preferences. ### Who This Affects Most - **Beverage Manufacturing:** Opportunity: Introduce innovative packaging designs and label concepts that enhance the overall brand experience and appeal to consumers. - **Sports Marketing:** Opportunity: Collaborate with athletes to create unique beverage products that resonate with their fan base, combining sports and refreshment. - **Celebrity Endorsements:** Opportunity: Tap into the trend of celebrity-brand collaborations by creating exclusive beverage lines that align with the celebrity's image and taste preferences. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Athlete-Backed Social Good Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lebron-james-and-lifewtr.md) - [Limited-Edition Hip-Hop Sodas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sprite-lymonade-legacy.md) - [Basketball Star-Backed Chip Flavors](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/flamin-hot.md) - [Tea-Flavored Sodas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sprite-tea.md) - [Craveable Soda Packaging](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/obey-your-thirst.md) - [Athlete-Backed Game Consoles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lebron-james-game-console.md) - [Cricket League-Focused Beverage Partnerships](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lucknow-super-giants.md) - [Game-Themed Soft Drinks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/coca-cola-2.md) - [Soda-Collaborative Dynamic Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shaq-attaq-2.md)