‘NBA on Prime’ nails first ad starring Blake Griffin, Chet Holmgren

The NBA has secured Amazon and NBC as new broadcast partners, with Amazon's Prime Video launching promotional content for its coverage starting this fall. A new commercial for the Emirates NBA Cup in-season tournament features Blake Griffin and Chet Holmgren.

In the ad, Griffin humorously portrays a clueless Oklahoman attempting to claim the Thunder's NBA championship. He video calls Holmgren like an overly familiar uncle and delivers an unsolicited, goofy motivational speech. Prime Video released this commercial alongside the announcement of the NBA Cup group draw and schedule.

The commercial includes subtle details likely to excite NBA fans, such as Holmgren appearing at his Minnehaha High School and both players referencing the NBA Summer League (despite Amazon not airing those games). Griffin also hums the "What a Girl Wants" parody from Holmgren's AT&T ad after the call.

Amazon clearly views the in-season tournament as a key part of its package and positions Griffin as a star of its broadcast team, while also elevating Holmgren's profile. The ad, focusing on Holmgren's backstory and showcasing Griffin positively, appears to be a strategic move by Amazon to engage fans following recent discussions about the league's viewership and star power.