The 2-time MVP joins WNBA 2-time MVP A’ja Wilson as featured ambassadors of the leagues’ official soft drink.
When Giannis Antetokounmpo lands in Indianapolis to headline the NBA’s 73rd annual All-Star Game, the Sunday showcase game’s leading vote-getter will have yet another accolade to add to the esteemed portfolio he’s built both on- and off-court:
Giannis is the new face of Starry, the Official Soft Drink of the NBA, WNBA and G-League.
To kick off The Greek Freak’s newest endorsement deal, Starry will run its latest campaign with Antetokounmpo throughout All-Star Weekend, both on the ground in Indiana, across TV airwaves for a global audience, and across both digital and out-of-home activations.
“A lot of endorsement deals come to my table, and I try pick things that align with my brand,” Antetokounmpo told Boardroom. “I feel like I could be funny and joke around, the same way that Starry jokes around, so it aligned with my brand and we had a great day of shooting … it shows the fun side of me out there.”
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Admittedly new to the lemon-lime soda game in awareness level, after re-launching as “Starry” in January, 2023 under the Pepsi Co. umbrella of brands, the drink’s newest campaign tagline hints at switching sides and overtaking the industry’s longtime leading lemon-lime soda in a new series of commercials.
As distraught fans donning blurred-out Sprite logo hoodies find their way on screen, the tagline boasts, “It’s time to see other sodas.” Antetokounmpo — known for his loyalty throughout every big decision of his career — couldn’t help but laugh at the irony of switching up for the campaign.
“I’m not going to lie — it was a little bit hard, but I had to do it,” he smiled. “I’ve been drinking Starry, and I do love that it is crisp and refreshing, so it came easy for me.”
Throughout the weekend, Starry will show up as a presenting sponsor and host of several events. The “STARRY AR3NA” activation space at the NBA Crossover fan experience will feature a LED court. There, both fans and local charities can win prizes and money.
For the first time, Starry will sponsor the HBCU Classic. And, for the second consecutive year, the 3-Point Contest on Saturday night. As the new face of the company, Giannis doesn’t rule out one day competing in the Starry 3-Point Contest himself.
“Never say never,” he teased. “Because I really believe in my hard work. I believe I work my butt off. You never know man.”
This season, he’s taking just 1.8 threes per game, the fourth lowest of his eleven year career. The stat is a noted drop from the career-high 4.7 attempts per outing in 2019-20 and 3.6 threes per in each of the two seasons afterwards.
“Maybe when I’m old and I can’t move the same, and I can’t go through people and get into the paint — maybe I start shooting more 3s,” he continued. “Maybe I start shooting more 3s and my percentage goes up. It’s kind of hard to shoot a lot of 3s, when you can get into the paint and shoot 75% in the paint. Your mind doesn’t let you. But maybe in the future, I’ll do it, when I’m 36, 37 or 38.”
Featuring two shots from “Starry Range,” contestants will also shoot from 29.9 feet — 6 feet beyond the 3-point line — for an additional three points per make during the contest.
“I really want to try the 3-point Starry ball,” chimed in Antetokounmpo. “I love that.”
Just between the 3-Point Contest and the Slam Dunk Contest, there will be a new wrinkle added in this year, as WNBA shooting champ Sabrina Ionescu is set to face off against NBA all-time 3-point record holder Stephen Curry in an exhibition shootout contest.
“I put all my money on Sabrina,” Giannis says, without hesitation.
With his endorsement deal set to launch this weekend in Indianapolis during his 8th time participating in the All-Star Game, Antekounmpo has long grasped just how impactful making the most of the league’s annual showcase event can be for a player’s marketing presence.
“For many years now, you try to use All-Star Weekend as a platform,” he said. “The NBA gives you a great opportunity to do that and partner with great companies like Starry to do activations and bring the world together. I know me and Starry, we have a lot of exciting things that we’re doing at All-Star Weekend.”
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