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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Who is your favorite Beyonce? Is it “Bootylicious” Beyonce? Sasha Fierce? “Crazy in Love” Beyonce? There’s always the more traditional millionaire mogul/super-duper female role model Bey, the one who signed the Pepsi endorsement deal that brought us to this point. In “Mirrors,” which comes to us from 180 LA and features Mrs. Carter’s track, “Grown Woman,” you don’t have to choose a favorite Beyonce, because they are all there for you to admire. The 60-second spot is part of Pepsi’s “Live for Now” campaign.

I’m not sure what Beyonce or Pepsi has to do with the idea of living for now. And Coke tastes much better, had to throw that in there. But Pepsi has been making strides in the music industry, helping to brand popular and upcoming artists to enormous audiences. This spot evokes the Gatorade “Who Got Next” commercial from a few years ago with Michael Jordan playing one-on-one against earlier versions of himself. That was clever and made sense with the brand; this doesn’t, but it’s Beyonce, so everyone will gawk at her on YouTube or their television screens. Maybe they should. #BeyHereNow.

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In October, Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade shocked the world (aka people who care about NBA apparel endorsements) by leaving Jordan Brand and joining forces with Li-Ning, one of China’s most-prominent sports brands (that’s been slowly making inroads here in the States over the years).

The move was shocking for a couple of reasons. First, it put Dwyane Wade in Michael Jordan‘s crosshairs which, if you’ve read Wright Thompson‘s incredible piece on Jordan for ESPN, you know it’s a terrible idea because MJ is totally fucking crazy. Second, it revealed that China’s plan for worldwide dominance begins with taking our beloved professional athletes away from us. Third, it revealed Wade to be Chinese  and most likely communist sympathizer—someone who would turn his back on his home country for the wealth and oppression that China’s booming (though unstable) economy offers to those willing to denounce the USA (Ed: As far as we know, Dwyane Wade is not actually a ‘communist sympathizer’ nor is he the catalyst for China’s global takeover. We hope you’re no longer in the fetal position at this moment).

Li-Ning apparently offered Wade his own brand within theirs, including a lot of creative control over his projects. Jordan brand, being run by a psychotic control-freak, obviously would never let this happen. So, we have the above spot from agency Zambezi depicting Dwyane Wade running the show like a badass. Smile now, D-Wade, but is your pile of Yuan keeping you warm tonight? Actually, yeah, it probably is. Credits after the jump.

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Two years after joining up with Moroch as executive creative director, Bob Shallcross has moved up to the top seat, assuming the role of chief creative officer, which is actually a new position at the Dallas-based agency. A Chicago native, Shallcross is perhaps best known for his creative output while at Leo Burnett during the late 80′s/early 90′s, one that included the Michael Jordan vs. Larry Bird “Nothin’ but Net” spot for McDonald’s, which just topped USA Today’s Best Super Bowl Ad Meter list.

The industry vet, who’s also logged stints at Doner, JWT and Y&R during his 35-year ad career, is in familiar territory at Moroch, as he’s been primarily overseeing the agency’s McDonald’s business as ECD. Along with the fast-food giant, Moroch, which houses approximately 370 employees across 35 offices in North America, has worked with a client roster that includes Disney, Sony, Coca-Cola and Boost Mobile/Sprint.

Once the most marketable celebrity on the planet, Michael Jordan is now an abrasive, cranky old man with a Hitler ‘stache. Jordan’s frequent public antics aren’t exactly generating the kind of press that his many sponsors would prefer, especially for the athletic apparel brand that bears his namesake.

As a result, marketing efforts for Jordan brand are turning attention away from the superstar and focusing instead on those who carry his same dedication toward achieving greatness. A new video campaign from digital agency Blast Radius is doing so by featuring four very different athletes who use their love of basketball to “rise above” the constraints of their environments. The above video, #RISEABOVE Expectations,” focuses on a young Iraqi girl who uses the game to break free of her country’s historical treatment of women. Though a bit long, it’s a very poignant look at an athlete who treats basketball not as a hobby, but as a tool for changing her society’s limitations.

The second spot, #RISEABOVE limits, features Scott Odom, a baller who plays hard despite a missing limb. Odom’s dedication led him to found AMP1, which unites amputee basketball players around the country to play at an intimidatingly high level. On the way in the coming weeks are two more spots, one about a group of players from a remote village in China and another about Chicago kids who use basketball to reclaim their violent, impoverished neighborhoods. As a Chicago local and a fan of Hoop Dreams, I’m really looking forward to the latter.

China: A distant land where Derrick Rose can still walk and Dwight Howard plays with a smile on his face.

In a new Adidas spot for the Chinese market, TWBA Shanghai and production company Six Toes Shanghai release dolls of the Bulls and Magic basketball stars from behind a storefront window, allowing the pint-sized ballers to do b-ball battle against an awfully frightening looking dog. Supported by jaw-dropping animation from Pixomondo Studios, where 12 different artists added 2D, 3D, and cell animation, the spot publicizes a current promotional deal in China, which offers customers with a free figurine of NBA players with select purchases.

If you notice, this spot looks fairly reminiscent of Nike’s Li’l Penny campaign from the 90s (which is among my favorites of all time) but it’s probably not a coincidence. After all, those Li’l Penny spots made Anfernee Hardaway‘s Nike basketball kicks the second best-selling signature line in history, behind only Michael Jordan‘s. What I’m trying to say is, bring Li’l Penny back to the States! That, or someone from China needs to send me a Derrick Rose action figure right away.

Visit the campaign’s website here and view credits after the jump.

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When the New Orleans Hornets roll into Madison Square Garden tonight to play the white hot New York Knicks, “Linsanity” will be at an all-time high.

By now, even those who haven’t paid attention to the NBA since the days of Michael Jordan have heard about Jeremy Lin, the Harvard-educated, Chinese-American point guard who’s seemingly come out of nowhere to lead the Knicks to a miraculous seven-game winning streak. With each new victory, Lin’s bandwagon grows exponentially. Accordingly, the sports media perpetuates Lin’s growing legend at every opportunity, asking questions like, “Are New York’s Most Exclusive Restaurant’s More Eager to Sit Jeremy Lin or Eli Manning?”

Apparently, “Linsanity” is even spreading to the world of marketing agencies. In fact, Lexington, Kentucky-based agency Cornett Integrated Marketing Solutions is honoring New York’s biggest start by renaming itself “Cornett LINtegrated Marketing Solutions.” According to company president Kip Cornett, “Like Mr. Lin, we are an under-the-radar entity. Although Cornett represents national brands…the world hasn’t experienced the agency’s game-changing work just yet. The world has yet to experience our supreme LINtegrated marketing approach. Although they’re showing no LINperfections, we’re going to keep our new branding until Lin’s New York Knicks lose.”

Yes, readers, we agree that “silly publicity stunt is silly.” But cheer up, buttercups. It’s Friday, and the Knicks still haven’t lost yet. So, what are you waiting for? Jump on the bandwagon while it’s still fun, and somehow work a Jeremy Lin article into your agency’s blog. It’s an SEO booster, if nothing else.

On Christmas Day, the NBA returned after a 5-month lockout put the entire 2011-2012 season in jeopardy. The league’s shortened 66-game season kicked off with some very exciting games on Sunday which included a Chicago Bulls last-second come-from-behind win at the L.A. Lakers, perennial losers the L.A. Clippers looking unstoppable with the addition of point guard Chris Paul, and the Miami Heat avenging last season’s championship series by drowning the Dallas Mavericks. Also, we had Kevin Durant‘s disgusting shoes for some reason.

Of course, advertisers couldn’t be happier that America’s second most-popular professional sports league is back. Aside from media buyers rejoicing that prime time sports will continue well into 2012 after the NFL season comes to a close, creative types are giving a nod to the NBA. Above, NBA commentators Bill Walton, Steve Kerr, Kenny Smith, Spero Dedes and Jon Berry star in a new spot for Google+ from GS+P. The spot is one of three highlighting Google+’s “Hangouts” feature (the other two were created internally by Google Creative Labs), a critically adored but oft-ignored feature of the social network that has lost considerable buzz since its launch five months ago. Aside from the “Big Red-Head” and his buddies doing a very nice job commenting on an backyard game of hoops, the campaign features a spot that uses “Hangouts” to watch the Muppets rock out to David Bowie and Queen’s classic collaboration, “Under Pressure.” Like The Muppets (currently in theaters), it’s well-worth a viewing.

Also, we would be remiss not to give some mention to TNT’s epic opening day promo, “Forever,” which was directed by Sedna Films’ Drew Watkins. The above spot delighted NBA fans across the county (Kiran and I included) by pairing today’s superstars with legends of the game. Above, you’ll see the impossible become a reality, including Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant running out on court together, Brandon Jennings playing alongside Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Michael Jordan fist-bumping Derrick Rose to Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors’ track “Live Forever.” Considering how upset and jaded NBA fans got over the course of the lockout, it’s stunning that TNT of all things was able to remind us why we love this game so much.

Yes, that does appear to be the guy who gets dissed in that Michael Jordan Hanes ad from last year, but now he’s the star of this latest Carl’s Jr. effort from David&Goliath that promotes the chain’s “Made from Scratch” biscuits. The mustachioed stranger in the ad above emerges from the sand and interrupts some SoCal beach revelry with his over-exaggerated drawl and basketful of buttery treats. We guess his intrusion, though, is not as egregious as Carl’s Jr. actually trying to convince people that they make biscuits like those scrumptious ones from the south. Could we just bring back Olivia Munn already? Credits after the jump.

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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.