Chicago Bulls rookie and former Tar Heel Caleb Wilson has his first commercial as a pro. New Balance dropped a 30-second spot on Wednesday built around Wilson’s jumper, as first reported by ClutchPoints.
The ad cuts between his current NBA footage and home movies of a young Wilson getting shots up as a kid. Over the top, he talks about loving the process of chasing greatness and pushing other people to do the same. “Keep going. The work takes care of you,” Wilson says in the spot.
The IAHHM Take
Carolina, this one’s for you. A year ago Wilson was wearing Carolina blue in Chapel Hill. Now he’s the face of a New Balance campaign in his rookie season. That’s a fast climb, and it says a lot about how the brand sees him.
New Balance has been building its hoops roster around players with personality and a story, and the home-video angle is smart. It isn’t about flashy dunks. It’s about the kid in the driveway who never stopped shooting. That’s a message that hits with every young hooper in the state who grew up watching UNC.
On the court, he’s backing it up. Wilson is averaging 21.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per game while shooting 43.2% from the field, even with Chicago off to a rough 1-6 start. Rookies don’t usually get to be the main guy right away. Wilson is, and now he has a sneaker deal pushing his name too.
Question for the Tar Heel fans: is Caleb Wilson the next great UNC export in the league, and how long before he gets a signature shoe?
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Source: ClutchPoints
