Everyone walks commercials these days, but the NBA won’t have it unless it fits their terms.
After the Lakers’ win over the Grizzlies in Game 3, guard D’Angelo Russell took to the podium in hopes of promoting a new sports drink during an interview.
“That drink. Get down,” an NBA employee said to a bemused Russell, to whom Russell replied, “Why?”
“It’s not one of our partners,” she said. “But that’s my partner,” Russell countered.
“You have to fine me. Like Russell plugged in the brand Coco5.
The woman approached Russell and stood over him, who shook his head.
He said, ‘You’ll have to take it’.
As the press conference drew to a close, Russell said “Coco5” a few more times. sports illustrated.
Naturally, this promotion will be the best in the company’s history.
The video (above) has millions of impressions, with over 580,000 views as of Sunday night.
Russell is a partner in a sports drink company, along with Suns’ Devin Booker, Knicks’ Jaylen Rose and Charles Barkley among others. Coco5 is owned by Loop Capital Markets founder James Reynolds.
Russell gave the Lakers 17 points and 7 assists in the win.
The NBA has yet to announce whether it will actually fine Russell for promoting a non-NBA partner.
