"Hampton 5" originated from Green's courting of then-free agent Kevin Durant with three teammatesNBAE/GETTY IMAGES
In S.F., Katie Dowd noted Warriors F Draymond Green's Money 23 Green Enterprises "applied last year to trademark 'Hampton 5.'" The trademark -- filed for "Hampton 5," no "s" -- "encompasses branding on athletic apparel, 'dietary supplements in the nature of weight loss powders,' sports bags and gear, and a number of sports-related entertainment ventures, like coaching, seminars, radio programs and sports facilities." The origin of the Hampton Five nickname "lies in a July 2016 meeting in the Hamptons" in which Green, along with Warriors teammates Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Andre Iguodola, visited then free agent F Kevin Durant "hoping to court" him into joining their team (SFGATE.com, 5/17). The N.Y. TIMES on Thursday also did an in-depth look at the house where Durant hosted NBA suitors in '16 (N.Y. TIMES, 5/17).
THE THROWBACK: In Chicago, Phil Rosenthal notes Nike "will sell a special edition Michael Jordan Bulls jersey on May 31 commemorating the last of his NBA championships nearly 20 years ago." Proceeds from the jersey sales -- tied to the 10-hour Netflix and ESPN Films documentary 'The Last Dance,' set for next year -- "will benefit Friends of the Children, a national nonprofit organization." The jersey "will be available in three versions" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 5/18).
NO, NO, NO: In Miami, Jordan McPherson notes one of Heat G Dwyane Wade's 30-second ads for ESPN shows him "dribbling at midcourt before attempting a three-point shot -- only to have Chewbacca block it with ease." The clip serves as an ad for the Eastern Conference Finals and "Solo: A Star Wars Story" (MIAMIHERALD.com, 5/14).
CHALUPA BOX & ONE: In California, Fielding Buck notes Taco Bell's "Steal a Game, Steal a Taco" promotion "returns on May 31, the first day of the NBA Finals." This year "will be a three-peat for Irvine-based Taco Bell and the Doritos Locos Taco, which has been the prize since the promotion began" in '16. If one of the NBA teams in the finals "wins on the road in game 1, 2, or 3, Taco Bell will hand out one free Doritos Locos Taco per customer" between 2:00-6:00pm on June 13. If game 4, 5, 6 or 7 is "stolen by a road team, Taco Bell will hand out the freebies" at the same time on June 20 (Riverside PRESS-ENTERPRISE, 5/18).
