Doncic's presence at two events during NBA All-Star weekend will give him maximum exposure for brandingNBAE/GETTY IMAGES
As Mavericks G Luka Doncic enters the "first of presumably many" NBA All-Star weekends, he is a "captivating, 4K-vivid advertisement for the Mavericks, the city of Dallas and himself -- which, auspiciously for each, is not mutually exclusive," according to a front-page piece by Brad Townsend of the DALLAS MORNING NEWS. Doncic's presence in the Rising Stars game and Taco Bell Skills Challenge gives "maximum exposure for current and future Luka branding." BDA Sports Int'l Exec Dir of Global Marketing Robert Kinnard, whose group reps Doncic, said the phone "has not stopped ringing" with potential partners. Kinnard said BDA and Doncic have been "very selective in those partnerships" thus far. Doncic's "most well-known partnership, with Nike, is in the waning months of a two-year agreement." Some of his other deals are "lesser-known but will be showcased this weekend -- most visibly a digital advertisement, shot last week in Dallas, trumpeting his ambassadorship of Bose sunglasses with built-in speakers." Doncic is "poised to succeed" Mavericks F Dirk Nowitzki and "soon eclipse him as the most visible global brand" in Mavericks history. Along with its agreement with the NBA and NBPA, Panini America has a "separate individual partnership with Doncic." BDA and Doncic have purposely "structured all of his endorsement contracts to be short-term, one-to-three years, to maintain market flexibility as he grows as a player and person -- and, almost certainly, earning power." Doncic also has a "trading card deal with Upper Deck," and just this week Fanatics "became the exclusive distributor of Doncic autographs and collectibles." Doncic's partnership with Swiss luxury watch maker Audemars Piguet "wasn't announced and probably won't be" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 2/15).
