Menu
Marketing and Sponsorship

Leonard Could Cash In Following Finals MVP, But Will Marketers Find Him Too Reserved?

Baker Street Advertising Senior VP & Exec Creative Dir Bob Dorfman in his NBA Finals Sports Marketers’ Scouting Report called Spurs F Kawhi Leonard the "breakout star of the postseason" and wrote his NBA Finals MVP award "could be worth as much as $1M a year in new off-the-court income opportunities." However, Leonard is "one of the NBA's shyest and quietest players, which could limit his marketability." Dorfman notes Leonard may be "best-suited for non-speaking roles" until he "comes out of his shell and gets more friendly with the camera" (THE DAILY). USA TODAY's Jeff Zillgitt reported the "demands on Leonard's time will increase" following his MVP performance, as late-night talk shows "want him as a guest, and the Spurs are taking hundreds of calls for interview requests." The exposure also "could open endorsement possibilities for Leonard, who has regional sponsorship deals with McDonald's, AT&T, BBVA Compass bank and Texas-based grocery chain H-E-B." He also is "transitioning from Nike to Jordan Brand and received a congratulatory text message from Michael Jordan after Game 5" (USATODAY.com, 6/18).

BUT AT LEAST IT LOOKS COOL: Leonard makes his first appearance on the cover of SI this week, shown about to dunk over Heat C Chris Andersen, However, ESPN's Keith Olbermann noted Leonard "missed that shot ... at the end of the third quarter of Game Four" ("Olbermann," ESPN2, 6/18). DEADSPIN's Tom Ley wrote, "Now poor Chris Andersen is going to have to spend the summer explaining to his friends that he didn't actually get posterized by Kawhi Leonard. Magazines are liars" (DEADSPIN.com, 6/18).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 18, 2024

Sports Business Awards nominees unveiled; NWSL's historic opening weekend and takeaways from CFP deal

ESPN’s Jay Bilas, BTN’s Meghan McKeown, and a deep dive into AppleTV+’s The Dynasty

On this week’s Sports Media Podcast from the New York Post and Sports Business Journal, ESPN’s Jay Bilas talks all things NCAA. Big Ten Network’s Meghan McKeown shares her insight into the Caitlin Clark craze. The Boston Globe’s Chad Finn chats all things Bean Town. And SBJ’s Xavier Hunter drops in to share his findings on how the NWSL is making a social media push.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2014/06/19/Marketing-and-Sponsorship/Kawhi.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2014/06/19/Marketing-and-Sponsorship/Kawhi.aspx

CLOSE