The National Basketball Association (NBA)’s spokes-character ‘Non-Stop’ – played by exuberant actor Keyon Bowman – climbs aboard a bus with hoops stars Donovan Mitchell, Julius Randle, Jaren Jackson Jr and Jamal Murray for a wild ride in ‘Playoff Mode’.
The spot follows Non-Stop drive around the globe and even climb up into orbit as he hobnobs with hoop stars, as well as with ESPN broadcaster Malika Andrews, NBA legend turned expert analyst Charles Barkley, plus actor Terry Crews and tennis icon John McEnroe.
Indeed, each athlete showcases a raised level of intensity and focus reflecting the NBA Playoffs: Mitchell throws down a ferocious dunk, Randle adds plates to his bench press, Jackson turns up the treadmill and Murray puts on a ball handling clinic.
“It’s not just about making out to the playoffs, it’s making it through the playoffs,” declares Non-Stop with his signature rapid patter in the spot that dropped on 11 April when it premiered on TNT during the ‘AT&T NBA Play-In Tournament’ as the Atlanta Hawks visited the Miami HEAT. ‘Playoff Mode’ also ran across NBA social channels and in the NBA App.
The film celebrates the beginning of the most exciting time of the season: when players dunk harder and raise their game to another level to win the NBA’s ultimate prize (the Larry O’Brien Trophy) and fans cheer even louder.
As usual with the NBA, the league combines sports, culture, fashion and entertainment star power with pop-culture to promote its post-season in a Playoffs campaign created with agency Translation and helmed by Director Terence Neale.
The #NBAPlayoffs presented by Google Pixel began on 15 April on ABC, ESPN, TNT, and NBA TV.
NBA teams, including the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks and New Orleans Pelicans, also amplified ‘Playoff Mode’ within their own postseason efforts.
Plus, to further add to the hype and excitement, the NBA released ‘Win To Get In: Chasing History’ series from 28 March: spots with Terry Crews previewing the AT&T NBA Play-In Tournament.
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The NBA Playoffs begin on Saturday April 15. Playoff games will air on ABC, ESPN, TNT and NBA TV.
Non-Stop debuted in the league’s 2022/23 season ‘Tip-Off’ campaign in October 2022 and he also appeared in its festive ‘Christmas Play’ campaign in December 2022.
If you are wondering whether this bus stops on ‘NBA Lane’, the answer is….of course, not, that was the league’s anniversary campaign from last year with Michael B Jordan.
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