With March Madness days away, ads have already begun running for basketball’s other marquee tournament — the 2009 NBA Playoffs.
The NBA has launched its ad campaign for the upcoming NBA Playoffs. Unlike last year’s campaign, which featured split-screens of players describing various aspects of the postseason, this year’s ad campaign will focus on moments from playoffs past.
Each ad will feature a black-and-white highlight from previous playoffs in slow motion, with the the question “Where Will Amazing Happen This Year” fading onto the screen at the end. Two ads debuted on Sunday during ABC’s NBA coverage — one featuring LeBron James‘ dunk against the Celtics in the second round last year, and the other featuring Joe Johnson hitting a big shot against those same Celtics in the first round last year.
While ads through the first two rounds of the playoffs will feature current players, ads during the Conference Finals and NBA Finals will “incorporate historic moments with NBA legends, including Magic Johnson and Dr. J.”
The ad campaign, which will feature at least 26 playoff moments, is the result of a collaboration between the NBA, its television partners, and ad agency Goodby, Silverstein & Partners.
