NBA Star Giannis Antetokounmpo Teams Up With Starry Soda for New Commercial Ahead of All-Star Weekend
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After launching a year ago in Jan. 2023, the new lemon-lime soda Starry is bringing in some star power, with a new partnership with Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo.
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The all-star forward is the latest athlete to join the brand’s growing roster of NBA and WNBA superstars, which currently include Zion Williamson, Zach LaVine and Klay Thompson, as well as the WNBA’s A’ja Wilson.
Antetokounmpo says he was thrilled to be part of the Starry lineup. “That’s a great group right there,” he tells Variety in an interview. “If we go five versus five against anybody in the world, we probably dominate.”
Antetokounmpo — who also has a partnership with Nike for his upcoming Giannis Freak 5 ASW and new Giannis Immortality 3 ASW sneakers — is no stranger to playing with a team of all-stars. The 2024 NBA All-Star Game is the Greek-born player’s eighth appearance in the annual east vs. west exhibition game, while he’s currently playing with fellow-all-star game starter Damian Lillard on the Milwaukee Bucks. In fact, the coach for the east all-stars is Milwaukee Bucks’ head coach Doc Rivers.
“It feels good to do things with people that you work with, and people that you shared a common goal [with],” says Antetokounmpo, about sharing the court with his Bucks teammate during the All-Star Game. “I’m happy for them that he was voted for the first time as a starter and we’re able to do this together.”
Starry Lemon Lime Soda
Available at Walmart, Amazon and the WebstaurantStore, Starry is the new lemon-lime soda from PepsiCo. “It’s crisp, refreshing. And you know, when you try it, it hits different,” says Antetokounmpo.
Starry is the official soft drink of the NBA and a key partner during NBA All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis, Indiana, which starts on Friday, Feb. 16. The soda brand is hosting the famed three-point contest with Malik Beasley, Jalen Brunson, Tyrese Haliburton, Damian Lillard, Lauri Markkanen, Donovan Mitchell, Karl-Anthony Towns and Trae Young. All are expected to participate during the second night of the event weekend on Saturday, Feb. 17.
“There’s so much excitement around the game of basketball. And I’m excited to just go out there and have fun and try to put on the show,” Antetokounmpo says of NBA All-Star Weekend.
After the all-star break, the second half of the 2023-24 NBA season begins with the Milwaukee Bucks currently positioned as the number-three seed — behind the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers — for the NBA Playoffs starting at the end of April. However, Antetokounmpo is in the title hunt and aspires to improve with only a few months left in the season.
“I want to connect with my teammates more and build good habits,” says the Bucks superstar. “And just having a healthy second part of (the season), the number one thing is health in the NBA. As long as I’m healthy, I think I can control a lot of things. So just being healthy and going out there. Have my team be great and have fun!”
Starry, meantime, gained a lot of buzz on the internet for their Super Bowl LVIII commercial featuring Ice Spice, where the award-winning rapper breaks up with her ex-lemon lime soda (presumably Sprite) to be with Starry instead.
As for Antetokounmpo: You can watch him in the new ad for Starry, below:
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