Nike celebrates basketball player Kevin Durant's ability to prove his critics wrong.
Nike has unveiled a congratulations campaign for Golden State Warriors Player Kevin Durant after winning the NBA title.
From Wieden + Kennedy, Debate This aired at the end of the game, however was filmed prior to the win.
In the ad, fans and critics pull apart Durant's performance and athleticism and claim he will never go on to win or even be considered for the game; as Ol' Dirty Bastard's Shimmy Shimmy Ya plays in the background.
Durant, one of the game's best small forwards alongside the Cavs LeBron James, was criticised as being a glory hunter for leaving the Oklahoma City Thunder to join the all conquering Warriors this season.
But any thoughts he was jumping on the bandwagon for an easy ride were well and truly quashed when the forward earned the MVP award for the finals series, including scoring 39 points in the title clincher.
This is not the first time a big brand has launched a congratulatory campaign for one of its endorsers. In 2008, Visa released a spot celebrating Michael Phelps, as well as Nike's Cleveland Cavalier and Chicago Cubs tribute ads.
In a Tweet after the ads release, Nike simply stated: "Debate This: Kevin Durant is now a world champion."
https://twitter.com/Nike/status/874473491428392960Credits:
Client: Nike
Project: Debate This
Agency: Wieden + Kennedy, Portland, Ore.
Creative Directors: Alberto Ponte, Ryan O’Rourke
Interactive Director: Dan Viens
Copywriter: Josh Bogdan
Art Director: Pedro Izique
Integrated Production Director: Matt Hunnicutt
Senior Integrated Producer: Jake Grand
Production Assistant: Candice Harbour
Account Team: Shinya Kamata, Simone Jackson, Erik Wade, Chris Willingham
Media/Comms Team: John Furnari, Emily Graham, Anthony Holton, Danny Sheniak
Strategy: Reid Schilperoort, Nathan Goldberg, Andy Lindblade
Business Affairs Manager: Dusty Slowik
W+K Studio: Tim O’Brien, Deb Lee
Creative Management: Emily Norman
Production Company: Anonymous Content
Director: Tim Godsall
Executive Producer: Eric Stern
Line Producer: Brady Vant Hull
Director of Photography: Darko Suvak
