NBC debuts new ad touting return of NBA

NBC Sports on Sunday night "debuted a promotional spot" for its upcoming NBA coverage during halftime of the Commanders-Buccaneers wild-card game. The spot -- featuring Bucks F Giannis Antetokounmpo, Spurs C Victor Wembanyama and Celtics F Jayson Tatum -- is NBC’s first with original content including NBA players since the league’s new series of TV deals were announced last July. The spot unveiled Sunday stars actor Jack McBrayer -- of "30 Rock" fame -- "leading a tour of the NBCUniversal back lot" with a group of tourists that includes Antetokounmpo, Wembanyama and Tatum, "all in their team uniforms and asking McBrayer questions." Among them: Wembanyama "asking if he can get on 'America’s Got Talent' and Tatum asking if the tour goes through any metal detectors -- as he points to his Celtics championship ring" (AP, 1/12). The spot will be running across NBCUniversal properties including the Today show and Access Hollywood, and Today has a big NBA feature planned for Monday during the show. The NBA and its teams will also show the promo on their platforms (SBJ).