NYSportsJournalism.com - NBA Draft Marketers Want More Than One-And-Done
Although “One-And-Done” could be the theme of the 2018 NBA Draft presented by State Farm, with many of the top prospects having opted to turn pro following their freshman year at college, league marketing partners prefer a long-term commitment, not just just with the NBA but also with the players they are signing to endorsement deals.
Among the projected top draft picks Thursday night (June 21) in Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY, players who left school after their freshman year include Trae Young (Oklahoma), Marvin Bagley III (Duke), Deandre Ayton (Arizona), Mo Bamba (Texas), Jaren Jackson Jr. (Michigan State), Michael Porter Jr. (Missouri), Wendell Carter (Duke), Collin Sexton (Alabama), Lonnie Walker (Miami) and Zaire Smith (Texas Tech)
In addition, Luka Doncic from Slovenia turned pro in 2015 at the age of 15 and is entering the NBA as a 19-year-old.
Among the marketers that have activated or will activate around the 2018 NBA Draft: adidas, American Express, Anheuser-Busch, Cisco, Foot Locker, JBL (Harman), Kia, Mountain Dew (Kickstart), New Era, Nike, Panini America, Puma, State Farm, Tissot and Verizon.
Players who have (to date) signed new endorsement deals include Trae Young (adidas, Panini America, Tissot) Lonnie Walker IV (adidas), Marvin Bagley III (Mountain Dew Kickstart, JBL Puma, Tissot), Deandre Ayton (Puma), Michael Porter Jr. (Puma) and Zaire Smith (Puma).
For the third year, Tissot will gift all first-round draftees with a customized Tissot Quickster watch moments after they are drafted.
Tissot is also working with Trae Young and Marvin Bagley III “on perfecting their personal style for Draft night, complete with a Tissot watch,” supported by “24 Seconds With” videos with both players to “give fans the opportunity to learn more about them.”
Foot Locker is taking the “One-And-Done” theme to retail.
The integrated marketing campaign includes two infomercial-inspired spots (hosted by comedian Reggie Couz), one each with Draft picks Trae Young (pictured) and LiAngelo Ball. They are shown selling Foot Locker-exclusive T-shirts (from streetwear designer Don C), literally available for one day only.
A third spot is scheduled to air during the Draft on ESPN. Lead agency is BBDO, NY.
LiAngelo (brother of Los Angeles Lakers Lonzo) Ball’s “one-and-done” claim is that he played overseas this past year in Lithuania for one season rather than attend college.
According to LiAngelo, "I loved Foot Locker's Draft commercial from last year with my brother, so I think it's exciting that I can continue the Ball family tradition by being in this year's campaign.
”The 'One and Done' concept is definitely something athletes and fans have been talking about a lot this season and I think it's great that Foot Locker is able to have fun with some of the pre-Draft conversations."
At Mountain Dew, Bagley III — who also has been doing pre-Draft activation with JCPenney and Verizon — will join a Kickstart Rising Stars roster that includes Joel Embiid, Kyle Kuzma and Dennis Smith Jr., as well as such current Dew brand athletes as Russell Westbrook and Kyrie Irving.
”For Mountain Dew as a brand, partnering with an athlete is about identifying someone that truly lives the brand ethos every day," Chauncey Hamlett, senior director-marketing, Mountain Dew, said in a statement. "Marvin (pictured below) isn't afraid to push boundaries, and knows how to have fun while doing it, making him the ideal partner for Dew and a great addition to our team of NBA superstars."
Puma is rebooting its hoops division with the signing of several potential top NBA draft picks and also said it has named producer/musician/businessman Jay-Z as president of basketball operations. The company said it has been working with Jay-Z run Roc Nation “for quite some time.”
WNBA star Skylar Diggins-Smith switched from Nike to Puma last year. Rihanna, Big Sean, Selena Gomez, The Weeknd and Kylie Jenner are among the celebrities who have deals with the brand.
In addition, Hall of Famer Walt "Clyde" Frazier, a Puma partner for its first signature shoe in the 1970’s and long-time endorser, has signed a lifetime contract with the shoe brand.
State Farm will be the title partner for the NBA Draft for the seventh consecutive year.
The insurance company is running a series of “Future of the Assist” with incoming rookies such as Mohamed Bamba, Michael Porter Jr. and Marvin Bagley III talking about how family, friends and their college and high school experiences helped them to reach their goals.
On-site, a bevy of activation includes 35 State Farm brand ambassadors who are “Here to Help” by assisting fans, who, among other things, can make their own Draft Day picks on video or photo and share via social media.
Anheuser Busch, an associate partner of the Draft, will have an integration called “Do you Know Your Bud Challenge,” asking pairs of friends basketball-related questions for an opportunity to win A-B goodies.
Cisco will sponsor “Sounds of the Night” social posts, following Mo Bamba and Marvin Bagley III. Cisco will also conduct live interviews with at least five top 2018 NBA Draftees via video conference from Barclays Center.
On Draft day, JBL will host "Draftwav," an Instagram podcast featuring interviews with draftees Marvin Bagley III, Michael Porter Jr., Mo Bamba and Mikal Bridges.
JBL will also engage with fans in Barclays Center with a virtual JBL 3-Point Game giving people a chance to test their shooting skills to win JBL swag.
New Era, the official NBA Draft cap, with this year’s collaboration between New Era and the NBA featuring colorways with unique design elements: localized patches and pins to pay homage to the NBA’s 30 team cities, including city or state flags, the year the team was established, an alternate team logo and monogram marks.
American Express will host an exclusive NBA Draft experience for some 140 Card Members and select executives, which will include a group photo on the NBA Draft stage, a private reception and a Q&A autograph/photo session with a star NBA player.
Kia will be on the concourse with a NBA-branded Kia Stinger and the Kia Rookie of the Year trophy.
Verizon Up mobile enrollment stations will be placed just outside the main entrance to Barclays Center and inside on the concourse, giving people the opportunity to engage with Verizon Up ambassadors.
ESPN will have “’traditional” coverage of the Draft all evening on ESPN and in-depth real-time analysis and commentary on ESPN2. Both networks' events are also accessible via ESPN+, with supporting coverage on ESPN Radio and via Twitter.
NBA TV is also providing wall-to-wall coverage.