Oh hey, a sports campaign that has absolutely nothing to do with the Olympics!
BBDO New York launched a pair of new spots for Foot Locker starring NBA stars Kyrie Irving and Draymond Green.
In “Stand Out,” Green gets a visit from former NBA great Horace Grant. “With all those MVPs on your team, you’ve got to find a way to stand out,” Grant, who would know a thing or two about being surrounded by MVPs, tells him. Green doesn’t recognize Grant, though, until he slips on his trademark goggles. The spot ends with another person used to being overshadowed: Michelle Williams of Destiny’s Child.
Another recently released spot, “Swap,” shows Irving interacting with a young fan. He suggests they do a face-swap, but things go awry in Freaky Friday fashion and take a turn for the worse when the phone shatters on the ground.
Both ads follow on the heels of the recent “James Harden’s Inner Voice” ads which featured Colin Farrell playing the titular role. While the ads starring Harden took things into a strange new direction, though, these two efforts split the difference. “Stand Out” calls to mind the “Short Memory” spot from two years ago featuring James Harden and retired NBA greats Charles Barkley and Scottie Pippen (although Grant seems more in touch with reality than Pippen did in that ad). “Swap,” meanwhile, takes things in a whacky direction reminiscent of the recent Harden/Farrell efforts, while pulling off its execution slightly better than those ads. The more tested formula is still the bigger winner for BBDO, as it benefits from its humor being a little more grounded in reality.
Credits:
CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER, WORLDWIDE: David Lubars
CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER, NEW YORK: Greg Hahn
EXECUTIVE CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Dan Lucey
EXECUTIVE CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Chris Beresford Hill
SENIOR ART DIRECTOR: Austin Mankey
SENIOR COPYWRITER: Mike Motch
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Anthony Curti
PRODUCER: Gillian Burkley
PROJECT MANAGER: Amy Orgel
DIRECTOR: Janelle Van Wonderen
ACCOUNT MANAGER: Laura McWhorter
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE: Sam Henderson
PRODUCTION COMPANY: O Positive
DIRECTOR: Kenny Herzog
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Ralph Laucella
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Marc Grill
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER/UPM: Ken Licata
DP: Roberto Schaeffer
EDITORIAL COMPANY: Mackenzie Cutler
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Biz Lynskey
PRODUCER: Gina Pagano
EDITOR: Ian Mackenzie
ASSISTANT EDITOR: Mike Leuis
TELECINE COMPANY: Company 3
TELECINE ARTIST: Tim Masick
PRODUCER: Rochelle Brown
CONFORM / FINISH COMPANY: Method
CONFORM ARTIST: Jared Pollack
MIX & RECORD COMPANY: Sound Lounge
ENGINEER: Tom Jucarone
PRODUCER: Ali Corsie