Kyrie Irving Directs His Own Nike Shoe Ad, Includes Boston Cameos, Flat-Earth Joke

In an ad promoting the new Kyrie 4 basketball shoes, Celtics G Kyrie Irving "incorporates catchy music, eye-grabbing graphics and cameo appearances" from Celtics F Jayson Tatum and Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski, according to Adam London of NESN.com. Since Irving "directed the commercial," it also "comes as no surprise he snuck in a quip" about the earth being flat (NESN.com, 12/25). SI.com's Stanley Kay wrote there is "a lot going on" in the commercial, including Gronkowski "quoting Sun Tzu" and a cameo by the Boston Philharmonic. It is "60 seconds of pure chaos." While pushing a "two-dimensional earth replica on a swivel," Irving in the spot says, "This is my world" (SI.com, 12/25). USA TODAY's Andrew Joseph wrote the shoes are "nice, though, even if the science is wrong" (USATODAY.com, 12/25).

BACKSTREET'S BACK: ADWEEK's David Giantasio noted Rockets Gs Chris Paul, Trevor Ariza and James Harden are featured in a new State Farm ad that finds Paul "exploring his new city," Houston. In the spot, Paul is found "yukking it up" with a State Farm agent played by actor Oscar Nunez, and "naturally, they wind up driving around and singing along to the Backstreet Boys." The ad, which broke yesterday, opens with Nunez' character "taking Paul on a 'Grand Tour' that includes bowling, barbecue and 'I Want It That Way' blasting on the car radio." Translation, N.Y., developed the campaign, and Chief Creative Officer John Norman said an unnamed "NBA legend" and former Rockets player will join current players in future ads (ADWEEK.com, 12/22).