I must say the MVP Puppets campaign has been one of the longest promotional stints Nike has employed in a long time. Its success equates to Penny Hardaway and his Lil Penny series in my opinion. Although the concept of 2 star players competing against each other is stolen from Converse, Nike added its signature marionette theme reaching out to every age range unlike Magic and the Hick from French Lick. I can only imagine what is next to come.
And last but not least…
Bounce Magazine's June Co-Players of the Month: Antawn Dobie and Eugene Lawrence 
Street Dogma On-Line: "Next Level" in D.C. and how the Knicks and Nets are preparing for battle
The Playground Gave Us Walter Berry - The Truth, The Whole Truth and Nothing But The Truth
R.I.P. Manute Bol
NBA Finals Game 7 - The 'Bridge Brings it Home 
40 Cal
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Steve Lee
Stoneface
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Zach Smart
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February 10th, 2010 at 10:42 pm
23edge says:
I hate to bring race into the mix, but I can’t help it. I feel as if Nike with Wieden & Kennedy have always tried to sell the black man to white America in terms that were non-threatening. This has always been their equation: Jordan, Hardaway, and now Kobe, LeBron keep them non threatening while allowing black cultural codes to enter the ad’s in minor non-serious roles such as Mars Blackmon, Lil’ Penny and now the puppets vernacular. Queue the overused barber shop commercial, and you have a place where not just white America but everyone else is invited to an exclusive club of black men hanging out that aren’t threatening.
February 11th, 2010 at 10:36 am
illest says:
true…..but understand this is very intelligent marketing by wieden & kennedy and nike to sell its product to white america. you cant sell billions by portraying black athletes as threatening.
race in the mix is always great when discussing anything.
February 12th, 2010 at 2:15 am
Ramon Diaz says:
Isn’t it any advertising agency’s job to sell a product? Kobe and LeBron do not look like threatening characters at all hence why Nike portrays the puppets the way they do. I think anyone who puts race into this topic is over examining the commercials. I don’t think of race at all when I see these commercials, I see two puppets I guess lol.