Kia Extends, Expands Drive Time As Exclusive NBA, WNBA, G-League Partner
Tuesday, October 19, 2021 at 02:05PM NYSJ Sports-Entertainment Business News Service
October 19, 2021: To coincide with the start of its 75th Anniversary Season and Kia NBA Tip-Off 2021, the NBA has signed a multi-year extension and expansion of its exclusive marketing partnership with Kia America, marking the company’s 15th campaign as the league’s official automotive partner.
Kia America will also continue to be the official automotive partner for the WNBA and NBA G League.
Financial terms of the extension were not released.
Under the new deal, Kia also returns as the official vehicle of the NBA Playoffs presented by Google Pixel, NBA All-Star Game, NBA Finals presented by YouTube TV and the NBA Draft presented by State Farm.
In addition, Kia becomes title partner for the Kia NBA G League end-of-season performance awards, an official partner of Summer League and the title partner of the NBA’s seven All-NBA teams (see list below).
Kia will also serve as the title partner of the Kia WNBA monthly awards and Kia WNBA end-of-season performance awards (see list below).
“Kia is one of the NBA’s longest-tenured partners and has played an integral role in the league’s story as we tip off our 75th Anniversary Season,” Tara Mulcahy, NBA svp-global partnerships, said via the league.
“With an expanded presence as the official partner of the Kia All-NBA Teams and NBA Summer League, we’re thrilled to broaden Kia’s fan engagement throughout the league’s calendar.
Kia also carries 13 partnerships with NBA teams, including the Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, New Orleans Pelicans, New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers and the Phoenix Suns.
Kia said it would continue to “enhance its brand presence throughout the NBA calendar, inclusive of innovating programming, sweepstakes and fan engagement activations, generating interest across the league from the Kia NBA Tip-Off through the NBA Finals presented by YouTube TV.”
“Over the last three decades both Kia and the NBA have grown in stature and relevance and the significant growth enjoyed by both brands is due, in part, to our long-standing partnership,” Russell Wager, vp-marketing, Kia America, said via the company.
“We are excited to further extend this relationship and strengthen it with the inclusion of the WNBA and NBA G League, which will provide even more basketball fans a courtside seat not only to all the action between the baselines, but also to Kia’s transformative shift toward electrification and sustainable mobility.”
NBA Awards include:
- Kia All-NBA First Team
- Kia All-NBA Second Team
- Kia All-NBA Third Team
- Kia NBA All-Rookie First Team
- Kia NBA All-Rookie Second Team
- Kia NBA All-Defensive First Team
- Kia NBA All-Defensive Second Team
WNBA Awards include:
- Kia WNBA Most Valuable Player
- Kia WNBA Sixth Player of the Year
- Kia WNBA Defensive Player of the Year
- Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year
- Kia WNBA Most Improved Player
- Kia WNBA Player of the Month
- Kia WNBA Rookie of the Month
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