Links: Exclusive Look At The adidas Brotherhood
It takes a village to make a team…
You may recall one year ago when adidas gave us exclusive access behind the scenes of their big summer commercial shoot. This year, we’d kind of been there done that, at least as far as our annual KICKS issue is concerned. But that doesn’t mean we still don’t get the exclusives.
Here’s the skinny on the latest adidas campaign:
INDIVIDUALS BECOME TEAMMATES
TEAMMATES BECOME BROTHERS
BROTHERS BECOME THE BROTHERHOOD
Anyone who plays sports knows this — when you’re on a team you go from being an individual to becoming teammates to eventually becoming brothers. All the egos and self importance is left for the common goal of performing and winning as a team. Instead of a bunch of signature shoes, this year adidas is bringing a 3-tier approach called Team Signature:
• TS Lightspeed — The key silhouette designed to meet athlete’s needs and expectations on-court; Less than 14 ounces; TMAC is featured in the product campaign but the majority of adidas NBA players will be wearing this shoe on court when the season launches.
• TS Lightswitch — A mid-season modular silhouette (I have no idea what that means) that offers a customization angle. A removable insole liner gives choice of cushion or control; Gilbert is the lead athlete for this shoe and it provides more stability due to a radius heel cup and more lateral out-rigging.
• TS ProModel — Based on a signature silhouette approaching its 35th anniversary, this shoe is the evolution of the original. It will also be the key shoe during the All-Star 2008 game in New Orleans.
This year, instead of just the five guys from last year’s campaign (T-Mac, Duncan, Gilbert, Chauncey and KG), they also added my main man Dwight Howard. And here’s your exclusive look behind the scenes at the filming of their latest ad…
50 Responses to “Links: Exclusive Look At The adidas Brotherhood”
Oct.24 at 2:07 am
Lang Whitaker says:
The part with Dwight talking about the kid blocking his dunk cracks me up…
Oct.24 at 2:24 am
its just alex says:
“Kids these days.” Haha. One of my favorite posts of all time is the one you did with Dwight talking to his pops about getting dunked on. And how he called him “Daddy.” It’s still one of the funniest things I’ve ever read.
Oct.24 at 3:28 am
Chou says:
The part where Dwight did this dance with the kid is crazy..
Oct.24 at 3:45 am
Adrian says:
Haha nice post, Dwight definitely steals the show.
Oct.24 at 4:00 am
Nadav says:
so…this is an adidas advertisement…
Oct.24 at 4:26 am
Madtice says:
No, this is the behind-the-scenes. Don’t see how they’ll make a commercial out of this material, though. Guess we didn’t see the still-behind-closed-doors-scenes…
Oct.24 at 4:50 am
peteb80 says:
So was this a real camp or did they just make it all up for the clip? Also, I feel really sorry for KG that shooting a commercial is so much more fun than the rest of his life.
Oct.24 at 6:41 am
Holly MacKenzie says:
Dwight is a clown, such a funny guy. Every time I see him I am in shock at the width of his shoulders. He is huge! I love the concept of the campaign as well. Something any athlete can relate to. One of my favorite adidas commercials was the one with KG holding the “world” up.
Oct.24 at 7:00 am
white hot eboy says:
We Not Me. Nice.
Oct.24 at 7:13 am
Nadav says:
yeah, kg’s contract was all about we not me.
Oct.24 at 8:22 am
Jared says:
any chance dwight dwarfs shaq by the end of his career? might sound dumb…but they’re not the least similar type of player early in their careers…numbers and personality are pretty similar too
Oct.24 at 8:26 am
peteb80 says:
You might be right Jared. The decisive factor here is that Dwight’s projected late-career-obesity is much lower than Shaq’s ever was.
Oct.24 at 8:36 am
white hot eboy says:
Dwight will never win 4 rings. Not in the league, as it’s constructed today. Unless he played with Lebron, Wade or a still in his prime 24. Too much parity for someone to just run over the league like Shaq did once Hakeem retired.
Oct.24 at 8:45 am
Bryan says:
Dwight Howard could really go down as the best power forward ever he’s a beast.
Oct.24 at 8:50 am
white hot eboy says:
Dwight’s not a center? Really?
Oct.24 at 8:58 am
peteb80 says:
Whoah eboy, hold up! You’re saying Rashard Lewis is no Lebron or Kobe? Why is he getting paid like that then? I also look at Dwight as a power forward, could be because of his quickness or because I don’t see a big difference nowadays.
Oct.24 at 9:02 am
peteb80 says:
Oh, I think it’s LeBron? And Ra$hard Lewi$?
Oct.24 at 9:04 am
Justin says:
Dwight is playing the 5 here in Orlando. He really hasn’t played the 5 since Cato was traded. I didn’t agree what Gil said in the NBA preview. Rashard and the shooters that SVG is going to place on the floor with D12 is going really open up Dwight’s game. He also has added some much needed offensive moves to his game. Watch out Agent Zero!
Oct.24 at 9:05 am
Justin says:
typo “…..hasn’t played the 4 since Cato….”
Oct.24 at 9:11 am
white hot eboy says:
pete, I hope you were joking about the Rashard comparison.
Oct.24 at 9:17 am
Jake Appleman says:
dope
Oct.24 at 9:19 am
peteb80 says:
From wikipedia: Because it is vocally oriented, sarcasm can be difficult to grasp in written form and is easily misinterpreted.
Oct.24 at 9:22 am
Justin says:
Orlando had to overpay to get their first 20 ppg scorer since they traded away T-Mac.
Oct.24 at 9:23 am
white hot eboy says:
Thank you for the clarification, peteb. I like Stan Van Jeremy as their coach though. He will get them to play team ball for sure. And I heard him already critcizing Arroyo’s D, so they should be focused on shutting putting down instead of just matching baskets.
Oct.24 at 9:33 am
Jack says:
If Dancing with the Stars is still around when Dwight retires, he needs to be on it. He wouldn’t need an instructor.
Oct.24 at 9:34 am
Bryan says:
It’s gonna be funny if Rashard puts up 25 and 7 for the next 3 years or so.
Oct.24 at 9:51 am
Justin says:
Bryan, the 25 ppg I can see. The 7rpg, not so much….
Eboy,
The perimeter defense overall needs work. Not just for the former Golden Panther.
Oct.24 at 9:52 am
white hot eboy says:
I kind of meant it should carry over to everyone.
Oct.24 at 10:05 am
Bryan says:
He already gets 6.5 whats .5 more? thats one extra rebound every two games .
Oct.24 at 10:25 am
Jared says:
meer’s gonna have a career year too…jameer career year…don’t sneer…holla…thats what a journalism degree gets you
Oct.24 at 10:28 am
Justin says:
Contract year for Jameer.
Oct.24 at 11:30 am
Allenp says:
yo, this is why I like Slam.
Oct.24 at 2:17 pm
Missy says:
Yeah, same here Tarzan. What gives? I thought I was going crazy.
Oct.24 at 2:44 pm
Justin says:
The video is gone.
Oct.24 at 3:47 pm
Lang Whitaker says:
It’s back. Sam got a little crazy. Sorry.
Oct.24 at 4:23 pm
Tarzan Cooper says:
you better be sorry lang, with your giant dome. j/p. nah, but seriously what is it like to have a head bigger than antoine walker’s?
Oct.24 at 4:27 pm
chiqo says:
fun police… fun police… fun police… fun police… fun police… fun po
Oct.24 at 5:00 pm
jbn74sb says:
That whole “We not me” thing wouldn’t have gone over too well with Michael “There is no ‘I’ in team” “But there is in win” Jordan. Selfish pr-ck.
Oct.24 at 5:08 pm
nic says:
dwight howard would have been THE BEST fun police officer ever. actually, pair him up with arenas, and theyd have to seriously consider bringing that idea back…
Oct.24 at 11:50 pm
Robbi says:
Dwight sure loves to dance…
Oct.25 at 10:12 am
lena says:
Great commercial. Embraces the team is everything. WE NOT ME!
Oct.25 at 4:47 pm
BETCATS says:
dope on a rope
Oct.25 at 7:18 pm
Hooplife says:
Hooplife - You Think It’s A Game?®
Oct.25 at 8:49 pm
dma says:
tim duncan.. god i hate him
Oct.26 at 1:54 am
Cisco says:
Dear Lang,
They ruined your Links article. This blog format really s#cks. It used to be entertaining reading your links articles - as they really were - articles. They are no longer articles - they are just random comments (shorter and lacking substance) and with a few links pasted here and there. Just enough to get the comments flowing. Its like a radio talk show online. Except we don’t get any responses. If I wanted everyone’s opinion I would go to Forums. If I wanted a professional basketball journalist’s views presented well - I’d go back to the old Links format.
Good times… never last.
Cisco,
Sydney Go back to the old links format. Blog style is cheating.
Oct.26 at 2:19 pm
Harlem_World says:
Nike’s 5 vs. Adidas still beats them hands down. In commercials, sneakers, gear and on court.
Oct.26 at 2:21 pm
andy says:
Amazing, this campaign is long overdue in professional sports advertising……
Oct.28 at 2:25 pm
Jose Rodriguez 76 says:
What up to all you Spurs haters?! Tim Duncan is back on the block punks!!! With the silver and black brotherhood!!!!!
Jan.10 at 5:24 pm
H.C* says:
dwight is the new shaq the way he pays and his personality off and on the court.
Mar.31 at 5:38 am
hursty says:
nice.