LeBron James may have a South Beach mansion full of trophies, but until yesterday, he had yet to accomplish one basketball-related goal: gracing the cover of a video game. NBA 2K14 won’t hit stores until the fall, but last night, viewers of the NBA Finals on ABC got to watch the introductory ad – created by Zambezi – where James announces his plan to join past coverboys like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. For 2K Sports, having the best basketball player in the world endorsing your basketball product is not too shabby, either.

Lost in all of this is the noble presence of Steve Kerr, once the foil to MJ in the NBA, and now, the foil to Marv Albert in NBA broadcasting. Kerr plays the role of “2K Investigator” in the commercial’s somewhat-lame hook. But when a six-foot white guy who couldn’t dunk gets into a basketball video game commercial, everyone wins.

Credits after the jump.

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Maravilla is no stranger to to CP+B either as he spent four years at the agency serving as an ACD, working with clients including Coke Zero and Burger King. During his career, the self-proclaimed “stand-up comedy instructor” has held a similar position at AKQA SF, where he helped lead creative on Xbox and “Your Interview with the President” YouTube effort.

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Kevin Durant used to be nice, but not anymore. At some point this season, the second-best player in the NBA stopped being the silent choirboy fans respected, and Nike and Wieden+Kennedy anticipated the change for their recent “KD Is Not Nice” campaign. Call it truth in advertising, because for whatever reason, Durant has really started to embrace the roll of edgy superstar.

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72andSunny’s marketing blitz for Samsung continues with this new spot for the Galaxy Note II starring none other than LeBron James (whose other, more charitable ad for Samsung was launched simultaneously). We admit we were intrigued ever since we first caught this 90-second clip at the beginning of the NBA season opener featuring James’s Miami Heat versus their hated rival, the Boston Celtics. Directed by Anonymous Content’s Mark Romanek (the man who’s also behind some of our fave music videos as well as One Hour Photo), the Samsung spot is presented as if we’re following the three-time MVP on his first day back on the job in the NBA (it was actually shot a week before Tuesday’s opener).

From morning family time, complete with cereal, to his trip to the barbershop to the championship ring ceremony at American Airlines arena, we get a gist of what James may have actually gone through on game day (or maybe not). We have to say, though, the Galaxy Note II’s stylus arguably steals the show. Credits after the jump.

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Mangan, who will assume his new position at BBDO SF in the first week of July, succeeds Mike McKay, who left the agency last fall for the CCO job at fellow Bay Area operation, Eleven. BBDO San Francisco’s soon-to-be creative boss, who will lead creative for clients including Gallo, Mars, Caesars Entertainment and Vail Resports, spent approximately 16 years at Goodby, moving from the account side to creative over a decade ago. Mangan subsequently penned work including the memorable split-screen spots for the NBA from a few years ago. If you need a refresher (and since they’re currently battling in a series right now), here’s one example starring LeBron James and Kevin Garnett. Update: After the jump, you can peep the short ‘n sweet note from BBDO SF chairman Jim Lesser that confirms matters.

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Is LeBron James poised to be the next digital agency maven? Apparently, SapientNitro thinks so as the shop has not only teamed up with the Miami Heat superstar and his management firm LRMR to not only re-launch lebronjames.com (still in development), but have the athlete help expand its digital and social media platforms. According to the SapientNitro camp, LeBron marks its first sports star/celebrity client. So far, it’s been a good week for the pro baller, who single-handedly defeated the New Jersey Nets last night by scoring 17 straight points at the end to clinch the game minus his partner-in-crime, Dwyane Wade, who was resting his sore ankle.

In a statement, Sapient CMO Bill Kanarick says, “LeBron was one of the first sports stars to understand the power of digital and social media to create two-way dialogue with his fans. We look forward to working with LeBron and his team to further build community and fan engagement in innovative ways.”

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–Tribal DDB Amsterdam won in the Music category at the SXSWi Interactive Awards for its Philips “Obsessed with Sound” work.

-ZenithOptimedia’s latest forecast predicts global ad expenditure will grow 4.8 percent in 2012, reaching $489 billion by the end of the year. link

-”Director-driven workshop” Tendril joined the roster of animation prodco Blacklist for U.S. commercial representation.

-Momentum alum Christophe Cauvy joined JWT’s London office as European head of digital & innovation.

-Just in time for March Madness, BBDO NY/Atlanta and AT&T have teamed up to launch a Facebook effort called “Brackets by Six Year Olds.” link

-Zambezi created the Kobe Bryant/LeBron James-starring spot for the Sprite “Uncontainable Game” campaign (above). The two superstars are apparently recruiting players from around the world to join their “teams” at next year’s NBA All-Star game.

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This summer, NBA point guard Chris Paul became the league’s most sought-after player. After commissioner David Stern shockingly blocked a trade to the Lakers, Paul found himself in L.A. nonetheless, now starting for a young Clippers team. All this to say, it was only a matter of time before Paul ended up being bit by the movie bug, directing and starring in the above spot for Sheets Brand Energy Strips.

Paul joins of roster of celebrity endorsers including hoopsters LeBron James and Amar’e Stoudemire, and unintelligible rapper Pitbull. Sheets Brand Energy Strips are a curious product, ingested as one would ingest a tab of acid, and used as a substitute for other performance enhancers like energy drinks or steriods. Right now, Sheets Brand Energy Strips are taking to Facebook, asking users to create their own video ads for a contest judged by LeBron. Apparently, the video above is just Chris Paul doing his part.

So, athletic readers who regularly take part in strenuous activity, how do you “take a sheet?” Maybe you take a sheet in the alley outside of your office before work. Maybe you take a sheet after a big meal. Maybe you even take a sheet before you and your loved one get intimate. Whatever the case, visit Sheets’ Facebook page to tell other teenagers who think this pun is hilarious how it’s done.

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-The FCC finally gets down to passing rules that ban super-loud commercials during breaks. Phew. link

-Meanwhile, the FDA is cracking down on “misleading” Lap-Band ads. link

-Submissions are now open for the 2012 Vimeo Festival + Awards (above). link

-New Cheil USA CCO Lars Bastholm discusses his new position and more. link

-Ignited unleashes 60 singing iPhones for the holidays. link

-Philly’s Red Tettemer + Partners hired Kelly Goldenberg as media director, John Cruz as senior designer, Susan Schneider as art director, and Tim Londergan as senior account manager.

-Leo Burnett Worldwide nabbed 2011 “YoungGuns Network of the Year” honors. link

-Energy strip brand Sheets, which was co-founded by LeBron James, has launched a 45-day search for its next commercial via Facebook. link

-Apple is reportedly losing mobile ad share to Google and Millennial Media. link

-Under Armour and the NBA have signed a deal. Seems only fitting. link

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Jayanta Jenkins

Jenkins joined Chiat LA after spending seven years as a senior AD at Wieden + Kennedy, where he worked on campaigns starring LeBron James as well as other Nike work. Prior to that, he served as an art director for nearly four years at the Martin Agency. As for new GCD Howard, he co-created the award-winning “Replay” work for Gatorade and worked on Nissan and Visa along with Anderson.

TBWA\Chiat\Day LA also hired Almap BBDO alums Renato Fernandez and Gustavo Sarkis as ACDs on Gatorade. Chiat LA’s CCO Rob Schwartz speaks from the heart of the appointments/promotions in a statement, saying,  “Brent, Steve and Jay are three of the smartest and most modern creatives in the business. Brent and Steve’s work, in particular on Gatorade Replay, is one of the most awarded ideas ever. Their passion and ideas for Gatorade and TBWA will continue to keep us on the cutting edge. It’s a testament to the bench strength of TBWA\Chiat\Day Los Angeles when the people we’d typically search the world for are right here in Los Angeles.”

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-So, why did that “Best Roommate Ever” guy post on Craigslist to begin with? link

-We’ll take an angioplasty with our next Denny’s order, thank you. link

-Here’s TBWA\Media Arts Lab’s new iPad ad (above).

-Bank of the West is running a Facebook promotion. link

-Tennis’s world number one Novak Djokovic has joined LeBron James and Leo Messi as a brand ambassador for watch manufacturer, Audemars Piguet.

-Michael Arrington has stepped down from TechCrunch and is starting his own VC firm. link

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Like it or not, Kobe Bryant is now the international ambassador of basketball. He’s probably not as recognizable overseas as Michael Jordan, but if he completes his second NBA championship three-peat this year, the comparisons between Kobe and “His Airness” will go on for decades.

While not quite suited to make a major motion picture with cartoons like Jordan (due to, you know, those rape allegations that happened a few years back), Los Angeles’ large market and Kobe’s 14+ years in the league make him much larger of a presence overseas than say, Lebron James. This Smart Car ad follows Kobe’s appearance in a controversial Turkish Airlines spot that aired earlier this month.

While Smart Cars look as those they would explode if ever in any sort of fender bender, Kobe’s driving and basketball-throwing skills save the day and an apparently priceless, ugly piece of art. I wouldn’t doubt Kobe keeps a basketball in his glove compartment should international art thieves try to ruin someone’s day. The most surprising factor? At 6’6″, Kobe can actually fit in one of those cars. Looks like Smart Cars are trying to position themselves as Mini Coopers did during car chase scenes from The Bourne Identity a decade ago. Pardon us if we’re a little skeptical about this.

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How did Miami Heat forward LeBron James and his buddy smash an SUV into a mail box and sever the head of a marble lion statue in the middle of the day? We may never know, but thankfully his State Farm agent arrived to the scene well before the cops showed up and started asking these difficult questions.

Though this spot from Translation NY refuses to respond directly to the anti-LeBron smear campaign competitor Allstate has been running in the Chicago area, it still uses the familiar magical jingle State Farm insurance is pushing in all of their commercials. Sadly, this spot doesn’t have an appearance from “The Girl From 4E” or Weezer. If a “binky for Baby Bron-Bron” doesn’t sound appropriate, maybe State Farm could add Boston Celtics center Glen “Big Baby” Davis to its ever-growing roster of celebrity endorsers. Credits after the jump.

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It’s hard to believe that it’s almost been eight months since LeBron James participated in one of the most tasteless media stunts in professional sports history. It still feels like yesterday when almost anyone outside of Miami would tell you that they were no longer a fan of James and would spend the 2010-11 NBA season rooting against the Heat.

Outside of Cleveland and New York, the team that felt the most snubbed by James’ decision was the Chicago Bulls. Most NBA analysts believed that Chicago would be the wisest decision James could make, and the team was stacked with the kind young talent that could hang banners in the United Center next to Michael Jordan’s squads of the 90s. So now, with the NBA playoff run turning into full gear after the All-Star break, Derrick Rose has led the Bulls to third place in the Eastern Conference, right behind the Heat. So, Chicago is going to start upping this rivalry with Miami, and Windy City-based Allstate, with the help of its agency Leo Burnett, has been calling out James–who’s endorsed rival State Farm, of course–for his silly decision.

As actor Dennis Haysbert says, Allstate is “from Chicagoland, for Chicagoland” as the company is offering lower rates to Chicago drivers. Basically, a car insurance company has more integrity than LeBron James, and Allstate isn’t afraid to say it.

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Well, at least one major agency’s awake during the holidays. Oklahoma City Thunder small forward/shooting guard Kevin Durant is a blossoming NBA superstar, and as the very young face of a fairly new team located in the middle of nowhere, Durant is looking more and more like the anti-Lebron James. Oddly enough, W+K and Nike seem to be playing up Durant’s “man of the people” persona in contrast to the brand’s recent campaigns featuring James.

Using Durant’s Oklahoma City neighbor and Thunder superfan Mathias Murphy to give a candid, low-budget look into the opinions and personality of the NBA talent, Nike and W+K have turned Murphy’s Twitter and YouTube profiles into an interactive fan forum. As seen above, Durant openly gives his neighbor an honest opinion on the Dallas Mavericks’ star Dirk Nowitzki in preparation for last night’s game (which the Thunder lost despite Nowitzki leaving in the second quarter with a knee injury).

Since the campaign launched in late October, Murphy’s YouTube has seen over 4.4 million views, he has over 10,000 followers on Twitter and the newest NBA Jam videogame features Durant and Murphy as an unlockable team, proving that having an NBA player as your next door neighbor can be an ideal living situation if he’s not a jerk.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.