Top 5 Inspirational Basketball Commercials
The theme of the week at Starting5 has been 'inspiration'. From Corey Williams blog about inspiring we found inspiration to hopefully inspire you with some inspirational basketball commercials. Wow, try saying that really fast. Anyway, Corey's blog got us thinking. Inspiration can come from anywhere at just about anytime. One particular thing may inspire one person to achieve more than what they thought possible while on others it may have no affect at all. Since we are a basketball website we got to talking about basketball commercials that have moved us over the years, a lot have been humorous, some introspective, some have been nostalgic and many have been all of the above. The ones that combine all the above are the ones that make you want to grab your Spalding and head for the nearest court. They're the ones that inspire us as basketball players.
Whether you play ball alone, with friends or with a club these are the ads that may help drive you to run the extra suicide sprints in practice, dive for that loose ball in a game and push yourself to limits you didn't know you had. Welcome to the Starting5 Top 5 Inspirational Commercials.
5) Chris Paul – 'There Are No Cinderellas' Jordan Commercial
Nothing in life is meant to come easy, especially things you want. It takes hard work, dedication, hours of practice in gyms alone with nothing but the ball and your thoughts. Never taking nights off and committing to a cause. Depicting Chris Paul and other athletes training late night this commercial shows us why 'There Are No Cinderellas' – this is no Cinderella story. It's years of late nights, striving to be your best, paying dividends. You get out what you put in. As you watch the commercial you can picture the scene in "He Got Game" where Jake Shuttlesworth is running a young Jesus through drills late at night, "What you think Michael Jordan is doing now? He's lifting weights. We the only people up. You, me and Michael Jordan." It takes a strong will and discipline to hit the bigtime. Chris Paul knows that first hand.
{youtube}eBPTJbkwii0{/youtube}
4) LeBron James – Nike Rise Commercial
At one point or another a basketball player has faced adversity, a point where you just need to 'Rise' above the critique, slander or whatever obstacle has been thrown your way. It will be probably be on a waaaayy smaller scale to what James faced, and continues to deal with on road trips but the message of this commercial resonates on all levels. Rise above all the criticism, stay strong through adversity and you will be the better for it. After all the sweet doesn't taste as sweet without the bitter first.
{youtube}cdtejCR413c{/youtube}
3) Dwyane Wade – Fall 7, Get Up 8 Converse Commercial
Although it is physically impossible to have gotten up 8 times if you've only fallen 7 times, the point is you never stay down. If at first you don't succeed, dust yourself off and try again (R.I.P Aaliyah). Always get up and fight to the end. And who would know this better than Dwyane Wade, especially early in his career, he would drive fearlessly into the paint without regard, only to be knocked down time and time again by the bigger behemoths thats stood guard over the area. Now when he drives to the bucket it's usually the opposition who get knocked down from a thunderous Wade jam. Lesson learned.
{youtube}fzvFAcbS0RE{/youtube}
2) Allen Iverson – I Am What I Am Reebok Commercial
From the moment he entered the League in 1996 Allen Iverson challenged the established order of the NBA, from crossing over Michael Jordan, to the tattoos and cornrows and the baggy clothes. Allen Iverson had a lot of people questioning his attitude and lifestyle for that matter. Allen taught us not to judge a book by it's cover, it was ok to be an individual, you didn't need to conform to other peoples perceptions of you to have their acceptance. It may have taken some years but Iverson was finally accepted. This commercial helped break down the stereotype most critics had boxed A.I. in. All around the world basketball players who have felt Iverson's plight are thankful that he showed them it was ok to be themselves.
{youtube}XXJkeoDwBrs{/youtube}
1) Michael Jordan – Maybe It's My Fault Jordan Brand Commercial
Maybe it’s my fault. Maybe I led you to believe it was easy, when it wasn’t.
Maybe I made you think my highlights started at the free throw line, and not in the gym. Maybe I made you think that every shot I took was a game winner. That my game was built on flash and not fire. Maybe it’s my fault that you didn’t see that failure gave me strength. That my pain was my motivation. Maybe I led you to believe that basketball was a god-given gift and not something I worked for – every single day of my life.
Maybe I destroyed the game. Or, maybe you are just making excuses.
Enough Said.
{youtube}9zSVu76AX3I{/youtube}