BetMGM Pulls Basketball Star Kevin Garnett’s Competitive Edge Out of Retirement

On the court, Kevin Garnett was known as a fierce competitor, who exuded an incredible amount of confidence. But now, he’s retired and leading a much calmer life – some have suggested he may have even lost his competitive edge… 

Leading sports betting platform BetMGM, has tapped Garnett for their latest iteration of 'The King of Sportsbook' campaign and shines a laid-back look into his retirement – lounging by the pool and smelling the roses. Alongside creative agency 72andSunny New York, BetMGM also humorously showcases Kevin as he snaps back into the fierce competitor fans have long admired when his BetMGM win arrives as a notification. 

“Big things are happening in the sports betting space and it’s incredible to be working alongside BetMGM, a company who is on the forefront of it,” said Kevin Garnett. “These spots capture my competitiveness even in retirement…haha!”

“We’re thrilled to have Kevin Garnett featured as our brand ambassador in the newest instalment to our ‘The King of Sportsbook’ campaign. Kevin’s legendary status as the most dominant and competitive power forwards of all time makes him a perfect fit for our brand and we look forward to seeing these new ads out in the wild,” said Matt Prevost, chief revenue officer, BetMGM.

“Peter and I were both in Boston at the height of KG’s time on the Celtics. He was intense. Calculated. But explosive. He was the ultimate competitor. As a fan, you couldn’t help but watch him do his thing on the court each night,” said Geno Burmester, creative director, 72andSunny New York.

“These films explore the idea of the inner competitor. How BetMGM brings that out of all of us. But really these do an amazing job of showcasing KG’s acting chops. They embrace and juxtapose the two sides of his personality now—the retired athlete trying to embrace a new slower life of leisure and the ferocious competitor that once dominated the court. Aaron Stoller captured the tension between those two sides perfectly. And only someone with KG’s talents could pull it off,” said Peter Hughes, creative director, 72andSunny New York.

The new spots will begin airing on broadcast during NBA Christmas Day games (Dec. 25th) as well as on social and digital platforms. These ads are part of the larger ‘The King of Sportsbook’ campaign that features brand ambassadors Jamie Foxx and Wayne Gretzky.