The Blue Devils have advanced to the Elite Eight, and the spotlight of March Madness brings forth an array of entertaining and sometimes unexpected NIL deals for athletes. In this context, the Blue Zone will rank some of the most amusing, impressive, and pun-filled NIL partnerships.
Among Duke players:
Kyle Filipowski, the sophomore center, has entered two notable partnerships in March. One is with Great Clips and the other with Dick’s Sporting Goods. The collaboration with Dick’s Sporting Goods involves promoting the new “Hey Dude Duke” style shoe exclusively available at Dick’s. While not particularly humorous, these partnerships are engaging as Filipowski showcases his basketball skills while making choices like “slam dunk” or “3-pointer.” He recently featured in an advertisement getting a haircut at Great Clips, emphasizing the importance of a fresh look during March Madness.
Jeremy Roach, the Blue Devil captain, has several partnerships, with the standout being his collaboration with Raid, the insecticide spray. This campaign includes advertisements featuring Roach alongside Baylor point guard Darianna Littlepage-Buggs, creating a humorous scenario of them teaming up to tackle pests.
Jared McCain stands out among Duke players with numerous partnerships, likely due to his presence on TikTok. He has earned an estimated $1 million in endorsements, including deals with Champ Sports, RECOVER 180, Crocs, and Celcius. Recently, McCain surprised many with partnerships with Skims, Kim Kardashian’s brand, and American Eagle. The Skims photoshoot garnered attention for its comfort and style.
Sophomore guard Tyrese Proctor has a prominent deal with Express, showcasing his fashionable appearance in advertisements. However, the rationale behind this partnership is not entirely clear, leaving room for potential collaborations with more pun-filled brands in the future.
Ryan Young has a unique partnership with a floral shop in Allentown, Pennsylvania, showcasing an unexpected connection beyond his Duke and Northwestern affiliations. Despite its niche nature, the partnership was effective, as evidenced by its inclusion in a test question for tenters in K-Ville.
Outside Duke, athletes like North Carolina forward Armando Bacot have capitalized on their image with partnerships such as Frosted Flakes. This trend extends to other athletes like Jack Gohlke, who quickly secured a partnership with TurboTax after a notable performance in the NCAA tournament.
Past examples of creative partnerships include Bijan Robinson’s Bijan Mustardson Dijon Mustard and Matthew Coghlin’s humorous endorsement of the Locked On Spartans podcast, showcasing the diverse and entertaining landscape of NIL deals in sports.
