STARRY signs Giannis Antetokounmpo to squad

New campaign gives consumers a chance to shoot a shot for up to $75K in cash

Purchase, N.Y.-based PepsiCo’s STARRY, the official soft drink of the NBA, WNBA and NBA G League in North America, signed Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo to its roster of NBA and WNBA talent.

Antetokounmpo joins the STARRY squad alongside some of the game’s biggest names like A’ja Wilson, Jamal Murray, Zion Williamson, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Myles Turner.

“In addition to being an unstoppable force on the court, Giannis embodies the refreshingly fun spirit of STARRY, bringing unexpected and show stopping moments with him wherever he goes, making him the perfect addition to our roster,” said Michael Smith, senior director of STARRY brand marketing, in a statement.

Antetokounmpo also is starring in the second drop of the newest STARRY campaign: It's Time To See Other Sodas, which kicked off at Super Bowl LVIII with Grammy-nominated, platinum-selling rapper Ice Spice. Combining music, culture and flavor, both spots urge consumers to ditch those tired lemon lime flavored sodas in favor of STARRY — because STARRY “Hits Different,” the company says.

“STARRY has such a playful attitude like me, so I was definitely game when they asked me to work together on shaking things up,” Antetokounmpo said in a statement.

Together, Antetokounmpo and STARRY will shine bright during the biggest weekend in basketball as it chronicles STARRY mascots Lem and Lime winning over the Milwaukee Buck superstar’s loyalty in a press conference like no other, the company says. This new “It's Time To See Other Sodas” commercial will air on Feb. 17 during State Farm All-Star Saturday Night, coinciding with the STARRY 3-Point Contest, it notes.

For the second year in a row, STARRY is presenting the STARRY Range at the STARRY 3-Point Contest.

Players will shoot a total of two custom STARRY basketballs from 29 feet and 9 inches out — 6 feet behind the current 3-point line. Each basket made from STARRY Range is worth 3 points, each round is worth a total of 40 points.

It doesn’t stop there, as STARRY will once again be showing up at NBA Crossover during NBA All-Star 2024 in Indianapolis, with the “STARRY AR3NA: Presented by Lem & Lime,” the company says.

From Friday, Feb. 16 through Sunday, Feb. 18, consumers are encouraged to participate in the action and immerse themselves in the world of STARRY mascots, Lem and Lime, as follows:

• Shoot Your Shot: Designed to mimic the STARRY 3-Point Contest, Lem and Lime will host their own 3-Point Contest on a dynamic LED court, where the brand will be giving away $75,000 over the weekend. Fans who sink the most 3-point shots in 33 seconds can win $25,000 each day, along with coveted Team Lem and Team Lime swag.

• Non-Stop Action: Throughout the weekend, STARRY will host a series of interactive games with various athletes, photo and lounge experiences and more, for fans to enjoy when they’re not busy sinking 3s with Lem and Lime.

• 3s For Charity: On Friday, Feb. 16, Pacer’s star Myles Turner is challenging fans to make as many 3-point shots as they can on the LED court. Each 3-point shot scored in the afternoon will raise money toward a donation to Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana, providing meals for local communities in need.

For the first time, STARRY is sponsoring the NBA HBCU Classic presented by AT&T, expanding its refreshing experiences to reach even more fans across the weekend, the company notes. To hype up the crowd, STARRY will bring a taste of its NBA All-Star 2024 activations to the pre-game tailgate with STARRY FIZZ FEST, featuring hoops competitions, prizes, and more, it says.

Additionally STARRY will bring the excitement to NBA fans all month long with opportunities to win prizes including:

• NBA Ticket Giveaway: As a part of the brand’s It’s Time To See Other Sodas campaign, STARRY has partnered with Tinder to give fans a chance to enter to win tickets to five NBA games, including the 2024 NBA All-Star Game. Just swipe right on each NBA Game Roadblock or the All-Star Roadblock to enter for your chance to win.

• Greek Getaway: Paying homage to Antetokounmpo’s homeland, STARRY is giving fans a chance to win an island vacation getaway in Mykonos. Simply scan the code on STARRY product packaging between Feb. 21 and March 8 to enter for a chance to win.