Listing every NBA All-Star in "Playoff Mode" commercial
The NBA debuted its new playoff advertisement titled "Playoff Mode. It’s a Thing" during Day 1 of the play-in tournament on Tuesday. The campaign humorously highlights the difference between the league's competition level in the regular season and playoffs.
It has long been believed that players and teams take their intensity to another level in the playoffs. Defenses tighten up and offenses slow down, with the top shot-creators thriving in a half-court setting.
However, most stars don't openly admit to not going all out over the grind of the grueling 82-game regular-season schedule. So, the NBA's latest playoff ad plays along with that idea.
The commercial features comedian and actor Chris Rock as narrator, asking several current NBA stars if "playoff mode is a thing." The players continually deny it, causing Rock to keep looking for a player who will admit the narrative is true.
The ad also features cameos from the likes of rapper Lil Wayne and NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal. Lil Wayne can be seen at an arcade claw machine with Rock saying, "Playoff Tunechi knows it's a thing." The rapper then says, "It's game time."
Rock then quips that even O'Neal's TNT co-host Charles Barkley's "playoff jokes are funnier," to which O'Neal responds, "No, they are not."
However, the campaign's focus is on the players, as seven 2024 All-Stars have lines in the commercial.
On that note, below is every star player featured in the viral ad.
NBA stars featured in league's "Playoff Mode. It’s a Thing" commercial
#7. Jayson Tatum
The commercial kicks off with Boston Celtics superstar forward Jayson Tatum being asked if "playoff Jayson [is] a thing." The five-time All-Star quickly shuts down the narrative, prompting Chris Rock to intervene.
"Nah, playoff Jayson is not a thing," Tatum says.
"Okay, Tatum, we all know it's a thing. Just look at the evidence," Rock responds.
#6. Donovan Mitchell
After Tatum denies the existence of playoff mode, Rock asks Cleveland Cavaliers star shooting guard Donovan Mitchell the same question. The five-time All-Star promptly concurs with Tatum.
"Just ask playoff Spida," Rock says.
"It's not a thing," Mitchell responds.
#5. Jalen Brunson
New York Knicks star point guard Jalen Brunson is the third player to be questioned about playoff mode. The first-time All-Star almost admits to playoff mode being a thing before opting not to give a concrete answer.
"Playoff Brunson can't deny it," Rock says.
"I mean ... Oh, wait, no, no, no, no," Brunson says.
"Are you serious?" Rock responds.
#4. Nikola Jokic
After Brunson's near slip-up, Denver Nuggets superstar center Nikola Jokic nonchalantly says, "It's not a thing" as he walks away from the camera.
"Oh, I see, you got the whole league in on this," Rock responds.
#3. Anthony Edwards
Next up is Minnesota Timberwolves star wing Anthony Edwards, who concurs that playoff mode is "not a thing" while working out.
"Come on!" Rock responds.
#2. Damian Lillard
Rock then highlights how NBA fans get to see superstar point guard Damian Lillard enter playoff mode for the first time with the Milwaukee Bucks.
"We finally get to see playoff Giannis play with playoff Dame," Rock says.
However, Lillard continues the ad's theme, saying, "It's not a thing."
"It's clearly a thing. How else could you explain playoff teams going on playoff runs, making everybody ask, 'But is this their playoff year?'" Rock says with help from ESPN's Malika Andrews.
#1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
The commercial closes with Rock encouraging fans to "grab [their] playoff snacks and watch some NBA playoff basketball." He then makes one last attempt to highlight that playoff mode is a thing before getting cut off by OKC Thunder superstar point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
"Because we all know ...," Rock says.
"It's not a thing," Gilgeous-Alexander says.
"It's clearly a thing!" Rock responds.
Also Read: "No excuses”: Mark Jackson lays down Knicks’ playoff aspirations after securing 2 seed