NBA Drives 'Nonstop' Into Glitzy Playoff Mode

Does this bus stop at NBA Lane? Nah, that was last year’s campaign!

The league’s spokes-character “Non-Stop” (played by the ever-exuberant Keyon Bowman) climbs aboard anyway, kicking off a predictably wild ride.

“It’s not just about making out to the playoffs, it’s making it through the playoffs,” he declares.

Welcome to “Playoff Mode”—that’s the spot’s title—which follows Non-Stop around the globe and even into orbit, as he hobnobs with hoop stars Donovan Mitchell, Julius Randle, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jamal Murray.

ESPN’s Malika Andrews and NBA legend/broadcaster Charles Barkley show up too, along with actor Terry Crews (in glorious extra-loud mode) and tennis legend John McEnroe (I’m serious!).

Bowman’s rapid patter amuses/annoys as always. We expect the NBA to enlist star power and a pop-culture vibe to plug its post-season. And that’s exactly what we get in the spunky spot from Translation and director Terence Neale.

Heck, at this point, the NBA and popular culture are basically synonymous. Fashion, music, celebrity, commerce, action, drama … it’s all there. Basketball plays in a league of its own, and leaves other sports—save soccer, possibly—flailing in hoop dreams.

The playoffs begin on April 15 across ABC, ESPN, TNT and NBA TV.