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.

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.

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.

As it turns out, vintage Nike Dunks may not be the only hipster-approved item of clothing from the sportswear giant. Believe it or not, LeBron James addressing a free agency controversy with Don Johnson at his side might not convince the Williamsburg elite that they need to get in shape or ironically play basketball for the first time since junior high.

But, not everyone can have the body of a fauxhemian by going vegan or choosing anorexia. Some do it by exercising (woah). Just look at Ra Ra Riot cellist, Alexandra Lawn. If you’ve ever had the opportunity to be at an event like South by Southwest where Ms. Lawn partakes in a free buffet before her band takes the stage, you’ll see her surrounded by legions of bespectacled skinny jeans wearing altbros, discussing in low whispers whether or not she’d speak to them if they approached her. It’s the truth. This girl is treated like a goddess wherever she goes, and that’s in part thanks to Nike’s urban running apparel.

So, next time you think of exercising as “uncool” or not something a rock star like yourself cannot in good conscience adhere to, think of Ms. Lawn and her bandmate Rebecca Zeller. Think of how they’re loved.

Update: W+K says it’s not responsible for this particular ad. Perhaps it was an in-house joint, then?

No matter your opinion on Nike and W+K’s “Rise” spot featuring Lebron James, you more than likely had some sort of reaction to it. The ad was interesting enough, or at least quotable enough, to spawn a wealth of parodies including South Park’s own shot at Lebron’s “excuses.” In fact, when the series’ anti-hero Eric Cartman tries to use the “What should I do” rhetoric on his superhero friends, they simply respond, “You should fuck off.” Ouch.

When LeBron James skipped college to join the NBA, many were skeptical if someone being touted as the “greatest ever” should skip an NCAA basketball career. After all, Michael Jordan went to college, and ended up winning the University of North Carolina an NCAA title while he was there. As James quickly became one of the NBA’s elite players, the comparisons to Jordan kept coming, which James embraced by getting “Chosen One” tattooed on his back. Of course, when after years of failure with the Cleveland Cavaliers, James opted to join the Miami Heat’s new “super team” as opposed to sticking it out with his old team, the comparisons turned into sharp criticisms.

History tells us that James’ move was the exact opposite of his hero’s. While Jordan’s Bulls suffered years of playoff losses at the hands of the Detroit Pistons, Jordan didn’t join a “super team” with friends Magic Johnson or Larry Bird. Instead, he stuck it out with the team that drafted him, netting six NBA championships in the process. Jordan’s own brand couldn’t create an ad like this taking on their parent company Nike, though Jordan has spoken out against James in the press. But, this remix with an older Jordan brand commercial works well enough, and you can visualize #23 speaking directly to the former #23 in the closing lines, “Maybe, I destroyed the game. Or, maybe you’re just making excuses.” Game: Jordan.

-The Peacock gets it in NBC and Nathan Love’s Thanksgiving promo.

-Foursquare takes a dig at the TSA with a “baggage handler” badge. link

-Bloomberg: Mobile ad revenue to grow tenfold to $24.1 billion by 2015. link

-Adam & Eve founder Ben Priest and JWT London’s ECD Russell Ramsey are among those to serve as jury heads at D&AD 2011. link

-Spoofs of LeBron James‘ now-infamous Nike ad are getting more views than the original. link

Famous people usually go cologne, clothing etc..Not LeBron James. He’s going furniture. Looks like someone took some notes out of Cindy Crawford‘s book.

In this spot for American Signature, directed by Adam Cameron out of LA-base LIMEY, The super star pitches a LeBron, basketball inspired theme to a couple of young brothers(one of which is Nolan Gould from ABC’s Modern Family) looking to decorate their room. LeBron is joined by astronauts, cowboys and many other iconic characters that might fit the bill for a young boys room.

It’s been about a month since we’ve been blessed with King James’ presence in a spot and we’re glad he’s back, Say what you will, you can’t deny that the man can sell a product, not to mention also having some not so terrible acting skills.

With the Miami Heat set to tip off the NBA season tonight against the Boston Celtics, it’s rather timely that W+K Portland unveils this Nike spot called “Rise” starring Heat forward and two-time reigning MVP LeBron James. Following his less-than-well-received ESPN special, “The Decision,” where James announced he was taking his talents to South Beach, the backlash that ensued was virtually unparalleled.

So, in this spot, James simply asks the viewer, “What should I do?” While not even close to being as creepy as Tiger Woods’ pre-Masters Nike spot, this LeBron clip (directed by Stacy Wall) seems to beg for the audience’s sympathy just as much. Still, it’s not half-bad and way more entertaining than Tiger’s entry, what with its nod to “The Decision,” a shout-out to noted LeBron critic Charles Barkley and even a cameo appearance by Don Johnson. Will it rehabilitate LeBron’s image at all in the eyes of those who loathe him, though? We doubt it. Credits after the jump.

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Continuing its “Boom” effort for Nike, W+K has rolled another handful of spots that mixes sports, sports icons, a contemporary atmosphere, some wild highlights, a couple of celebrities and a driving rock score which all combine to make everyone utter the campaign tagline. The 60-second spot above is basically a compilation of many of the shorter clips and features the likes of LeBron James, Serena Williams and Tim Tebow. After the jump, view two more from this latest series including a somewhat amusing :15 ad starring Craig Robinson (The Office, Hot Tub Time Machine) and Yankee Robinson Cano. Credits included.

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