Cavaliers F LeBron James "filmed a Kia car commercial in the middle of
Manhattan Friday night," according to a TMZ report cited by Joe Vardon of the Cleveland PLAIN DEALER. James, a Kia ambassador, "ripped through
filming in seconds." James: "Ninety seconds. You know it don't take me
long to knock out a commercial. It's how I do" (CLEVELAND.com, 2/14).
Vardon also reported James "flew five Akron teenagers" to N.Y. to carry
out several tenants of his "23 Acts of Kindness Mission" on his behalf.
The five teens "are all '330 ambassadors' for the LeBron James Family
Foundation." They "have rode New York subways, visited homeless
shelters, delivered basketball uniforms to poor schools, and dropped off
blankets to a nursing home as part of James' 'acts of kindness'" (CLEVELAND.com, 2/14).
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Harden has deals with Foot Locker, BBVA, Nike,
Skullcandy, Body Armor, Panini and others
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READY FOR LIFT OFF: In Houston, Jonathan Feigen noted Rockets G James Harden's goal off the court "is to create an image no less lofty" than the one he projects on the court. Harden: "That everyone loves James. Whether it's his personality, whether it's his game on the court, whether it's how he markets himself, James is someone I would look up to." Harden "has marketing and sponsorship agreements with Foot Locker, BBVA, Skullcandy, Body Armor, KT Tape, Nike, 2K Games, Panini, New Era, Bloomingdale's and Samsung." Harden: "Bloomingdale's leans towards the fashion side. ... Just trying to expand in the right ways and making sure my brand is going in the right direction and is something I like." Landmark Sports agent Rob Pelinka, who reps Harden, said, "James likes to tread his own path and create new lanes" (
HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 2/15).
CURRY UP! CSNBAYAREA.com's Monte Poole wrote under the header, "Warriors' Curry Bids To Be Face Of NBA." After his first All-Star Game "as the leading vote-getter among all NBA players," Warriors G Stephen Curry last night "was asked if he is becoming the face of the league." He said, "I hope to be. ... It's nice that the fans are supportive and show out like that in the voting process for the All-Star Game. I never expected that. Two years ago I wasn't here, so it's pretty special." Poole: "Given his soaring popularity, Curry might as well get used to it" (CSNBAYAREA.com, 2/15). In S.F., Rusty Simmons reported Curry "spent the All-Star 'break' zigzagging through all five New York boroughs -- showing off his abilities as a marketing marvel and verging on becoming the face of the NBA" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 2/15). The PLAIN DEALER's Vardon wrote under the header, "LeBron James Is The 'Face' Of The NBA, But Is Stephen Curry next?" (CLEVELAND.com, 2/15).
BIG APPLE BRAND BUILDING: In N.Y., George Willis writes Cavaliers G Kyrie Irving "spent almost as much time during NBA All-Star Weekend talking about the shoe being manufactured in his name" by Nike "as he did basketball." Irving: "The reception of the shoes and the colors has been great. It’s a dream come true for me to have my own shoe." Meanwhile, Thunder G Russell Westbrook "talked about making the most of fashion week." He said, "I'm out here growing my brand" (N.Y. POST, 2/16).
