Here's the latest ad from Nike, featuring Puppet Kobe Bryant and Puppet Lebron James. I wasn't feeling the first few installments, but this one is actually pretty funny.
Dwight Howard, however, isn't laughing. And in his most recent blog post which went up after his Magic took a two games to one series lead over the Cavaliers, he calls out these ads promoting a possible Kobe vs. LeBron Finals as being flat out disrespectful.
RoundCast: Too Many Whistles
Howard said:
I told ya'll the other day that we find it really disrespectful that everybody seems to be pulling for LeBron and Kobe to get to the Finals. Every time I look at TV, it seems like that's all anybody is talking about. It's like nobody is even giving us a shot at winning this series and we've used it as motivation.That's a fair question.
We're up 2-to-1 and we have a long way to go vs. the Cavs, but hopefully we can mess up those plans of getting Cleveland and L.A. in the Finals. If the lil' ol' Magic make it, what will they say then?
Besides these spots from Nike, Vitamin Water has been running a "Kobe or LeBron?" campaign of their own, and I'm guessing both bet heavily that these ads would remain relevant all the way through the NBA Finals.
With the Magic appearing to be the better team thus far in the East, it looks like the limb that these companies went out on with these commercials might just be getting ready to snap.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
5-25-2009 @ 1:41PM
OrangeChuckE said...
Wouldn't it be funny if Melo or Dwight got their rings before LeBron did?
Reply
5-25-2009 @ 1:47PM
ryode said...
Maybe his agent just needs to get him some better endorsement deals...He's just going to to the old "we/I don't get no respect card"
Reply
5-31-2009 @ 6:18AM
Kris said...
exactly
5-25-2009 @ 1:53PM
Mr.G said...
WAAAAA-WAAAAA - Disrespectful? Well,I'm thinking Howard is just jealous there is no "Dwight Howard Puppet".This debate has been ongoing for the last few years.Who's better,James or Kobe?It's about the individuals and a possible matchup of the 2 best players guarding each other,NOT their respective teams.Too bad Howard didn't get to match up with KG,to see who could throw the most elbows.
Reply
5-28-2009 @ 6:39AM
hdattach said...
How can you fault Dwight when the refs are calling him for Tech.s when Cleveland trys to tackle him. It's so stupid its funny. The fix is in and everyone knows it. The NBA looks really bad after the way they've tried to fix the outcome of this series. Their fixing games and everyone knows it.
5-25-2009 @ 2:45PM
marylulu325 said...
C-mon Dwight Howard. When you get to be as big as
Kobe and Lebron you'll have a funny ad too.
This is the first time many people even heard of you.
Reply
5-25-2009 @ 6:20PM
cjohn2112 said...
in case u wasnt aware of it, howard got the most votes of any player for the all star team.
the league wants ratings, or abc may drop coverage.(which abc has got to be the worst ever at covering the nba)tnt will still cover it.
2 years ago was san antonio n cleveland in th finals and it had some of the worst ratings ever.
last year boston n los angeles, and they got some of the highest ever.
pro basketball is a great game.david stern is more of a marketing guy than commissioner. all he cares about is ratings and revenue. i think its high time he was replaced, and maybe we will stop seeing so many one sided calls
5-27-2009 @ 11:15AM
dawestsidekid07 said...
is your brain alright?... he has been known since he came into the league... just from his dunks alone people know him.. and not to mention he was the slam dunk champion and league leader in rebounds and blocks ask anyone that knows ball they will tell you they know all bout dwight howard
5-25-2009 @ 2:49PM
ebonyblazer said...
@ryode: Dwight Howard has/had a pretty nice endorsement deal with McDonalds, and I think he also has deals with Adidas and Powerade.
Nevertheless, I don't think Howard's comments are hypocritical in the least. If the Magic team seals the deal and advances to the NBA Finals, there are going to be a lot of miffed sponsors--and they'll have no one to blame but themselves.
Reply
5-25-2009 @ 2:54PM
THOMAS LINCUL said...
howard is right!!nba wants the kobe- lebron match-up so bad.refs been doing everything (without looking totally obvs)to make it happy cheap foul-calls (graet block howard )@ end of last nights game puts howard out.. no respect, but we will be there in finals!!! GO MAGIC
Reply
5-25-2009 @ 3:02PM
qongquest said...
even refs cheating in the nba, when ads of lebron and kobe are pushed anyone with any sense can tell this is who basketball management in the nba want to see in the finals. what a disgrace.
Reply
5-25-2009 @ 4:39PM
Justice Anderson said...
Your Kidding right? Your trying to play this on D. Howard? He is saying its disrespectful because the commercials are saying point blank "Cavs are gonna beat magic". IF you were playing and some one said you have no chance, would you not be mad?
Reply
5-25-2009 @ 3:21PM
obamaizadope said...
Until LeBron wins a ring, he's Michelle Wie..(or if you prefer, the burger king)
Reply
5-25-2009 @ 3:41PM
skobexx24 said...
i think there giving a clue whats gonna be in the playoffs kobe and lebron and it is lol
Reply
5-25-2009 @ 4:02PM
sjmarkets said...
Howard, you will get your chance, but right now its Kobe and Lebron, very simple.
Reply
5-25-2009 @ 4:19PM
jm4279 said...
Not for nothing. But Magic wouldn't be where they are right now if KG was not hurt for celtics. So he should keep quiet
Reply
5-25-2009 @ 4:29PM
jjones58781 said...
You are absolutely right, the Magic would be 3-1 because they would have taken care of the Celtics in 6 games instead of letting them hang around.
5-25-2009 @ 4:27PM
nickstoli said...
Not sure about the disrespect, but the commerical's totally lame.
Nike's done a lot better.
Reply
5-25-2009 @ 4:29PM
jzz3skys said...
Howard already has 5 technicals through nobody's fault but his own, so if he's planning on making it into and through the finals, he needs to get into the habit of not complaining about every little thing, and this might be as good a place as any to start.
Reply
5-25-2009 @ 4:46PM
Giles said...
Bryant has earned most of his respect ON the court, helping O`Neal win 3 of his 4 Championships. He has also earned some of his disrespect OFF the court. He is an admitted adulteror, with a total stranger, though not a rapist. The girl admitted all along, SHE tried to seduce HIM, knowing he was married. She did flirt with second thoughts, but didn`t back out, much as she flirted with second thoughts about charging him, but did back out. Even Tyson, though a disgusting brute who was not punished too much for his abusiveness, though convicted, was not a rapist. SHE went to HIS motel room at night, apparently to seduce him, knowing he is a disgusting brute. James and Howard don`t deserve much respect on the court yet. James is a raw talent who needs to improve the consistency of his middle and long range shot, and develope some more productive teammates. He has three former all stars up front, only one starts, none is very productive anymore. And Howard makes James seem almost like a polished veteran. Whining about not getting the ball, elbowing teammates and opponents alike, piling up techs, not cutting without the ball to get open for passes. These self bankrupting businesses need better managers, who wait to see who actually competed in the Championship, instead of picking the guys they WISH would get there.
Reply