March Madness and the NBA All-Star Weekend are like a dream come true for basketball fans. The adrenaline-filled matchups, unexpected upsets, heated rivalries, and Cinderella stories ensure these tentpole events are incredibly entertaining. This year, brands have an exciting opportunity to tap into the buzz and engage basketball-loving audiences through influencer marketing campaigns with creators and influencers in the basketball vertical.
In this listicle, we will spotlight 10 top basketball content creators that brands should consider collaborating with, whether it’s for the NBA All-Star Weekend (February 14-16) or March Madness, which kicks off on March 16.
10 Basketball Influencers Who Are Dunking With Social-First Content
Whether you’re looking to amplify your marketing campaigns during March Madness or NBA All-Star Weekend, or simply want to align with basketball culture year-round, partnering with these digital hoop stars can be a slam-dunk for your marketing goals.
Let’s take a look at some of the top creators in the space.
1. Chris Staples: The Content Dunker
Former Harlem Globetrotter Chris Staples has transitioned from mesmerizing audiences with his slick dunks to captivating them through his diverse content creation for his millions of followers on social media.
Staples began focusing on short-form videos on YouTube Shorts and TikTok, growing his following exponentially, marking his success as a dunker. In June last year, he represented the USA in the Dunk Contest at the 3×3 FIBA World Cup. He’s captured content with NBA players including Paul George and Luca Doncic, and he also went to March Madness last year as a brand ambassador for Playmaker during their #wynnxplaymaker campaign.
He takes a unique approach to his dunks, turning them into creative games, challenges, and ideas that resonate with his audience. Brands can ‘fast break’ their way into viral marketing wins by partnering with Staples to produce engaging videos aligned with major basketball events.
2. Anthony Hamilton Jr.: The Dunker-Turned-Brand-Builder
Anthony Hamilton Jr. is renowned for his jaw-dropping basketball trick shots. After playing college ball at Chicago State & Clemson, he turned to building his influencer presence over 1.1M followers on TikTok and 489K followers on Instagram. Hamilton co-founded The Dunk Collective in 2023 – a collective to promote professional dunking. He has also made his first foray into film, with a role in 2023 for the “White Men Can’t Jump” reboot starring Jack Harlow. He has secured significant brand partnerships, overcoming injuries and adversity earlier in his career.
Brands looking to appeal to the basketball community can tap into Hamilton’s large following and work with him to co-create visually appealing trick shot content tied to March Madness or NBA All-Star Weekend.
3. Devin Williams: The Hoops IQ Guru
Devin Williams, known for his “In The Lab,” brings fans into the inner workings of basketball through video series like his popular “10,000 Hours” series analyzing players and games.
His latest series “Lab Games” infuses basketball skills challenges with elements of the “Squid Game” Netflix series. Brands seeking to showcase their basketball IQ and skills can collaborate with Williams around March Madness or NBA All-Star Weekend to craft informative yet engaging videos for basketball enthusiasts.
For those looking to experience a unique aspect of his basketball philosophy, check out the innovative ‘Silent Basketball 3.0’.
4. Larry “Bone Collector” Williams: The Streetball Icon
Larry “Bone Collector” Williams is an undisputed streetball legend renowned for his ankle-breaking moves. Regarded as one of the greatest streetball players ever, Williams has contributed tremendously to shaping basketball culture.
Williams now serves as a basketball trainer and mentor, with a clientele that includes global superstar Drake. He is also expanding his influence through innovative collaborations in digital and traditional media, as highlighted in his recent partnership with Viral Nation.
Brands have an opportunity to partner with Williams to produce streetball content that pays homage to his iconic status in the community while engaging audiences during major basketball events.
5. Jesser: The Multifaceted Hoops Star
Jesse Riedel, aka Jesser, is a prominent basketball influencer known for his diverse content spanning basketball, comedy, and gaming. He runs multiple YouTube channels with over 24.5M total subscribers and has a significant following on other platforms like Instagram and TikTok.
Given his broad range and love of basketball, Jesser is the perfect partner for brands seeking a multifaceted influencer who can create various types of content primed for social-first, Gen Z audiences around major basketball events.
6. Kris London: The Comedic Hooper
Kristopher Obasek, who goes by the moniker Kris London, entertains audiences with his blend of comedy, rants, and hoops content. He is a prominent member of the 2Hype group of creators and has a significant online following, and he’s found immense success as a YouTuber.
Kris is also an avid gamer, so his audience is a great cross section of culture and an easy way for brands to zero in on their target audience based on overlapping interests. He brings comedy and personality to his basketball-focused content. Brands can tap into his lively, humorous approach by collaborating with London to produce engaging videos tailored to tentpole basketball events.
7. Jenna Bandy: The Record-Breaking Baller
Jenna Bandy has made waves as a coach and basketball influencer; she even holds a Guinness World Record for the farthest thrown football into a target by a woman. She boasts impressive followings on YouTube and Instagram, where she provides basketball and softball training.
Brands and a diverse range of sports leagues love working with Bandy because she has a unique way of blending her skills into jaw-dropping, viral trick shots. She also engages female sports fans in a space that is limited in female representation.
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8. Grace Hunter: The Basketball Comic
Grace Hunter isn’t your typical basketball influencer, as she’s known to entertain her TikTok followers with an array of comedy sketches and pranks. But Hunter is a true baller through and through, having played for North Carolina State University, making her a great candidate for March Madness activations.
Brands can tap into her basketball background and comedic skills by collaborating with Hunter around major basketball events to create funny, engaging content.
9. Caitlin Clark: Global Hoops Superstar
Unless you have been living under a rock for the past couple of years, you are likely aware of who Caitlin Clark is. A standout basketball player even before she started high school, Clark took the NCAA by storm during her playing days at the University of Iowa, breaking records in her first collegiate season – including making NCAA history as the first-ever player to log a 40-point triple-double. She just capped off an impressive first season in the WNBA, earning Rookie of the Year honors, with her standout performance on the court solidifying her as one of the league’s brightest rising stars.
Clark was one of the highest paid NIL athletes during her college years, bypassing a lot of her male counterparts. She’s one of the most popular basketball stars on the planet and is just starting a highly lucrative career as an athlete-influencer. Brands have an opportunity to partner with rising stars like Clark around March Madness and NBA All-Star Weekend to amplify their campaigns and dramatically increase their reach.
10. Briana “Bree” Green: The Globe-Trotting Baller
Former Harlem Globetrotter Bree Green has become a prominent figure in basketball through her skills and social media presence. She provides basketball training sessions and has partnered with major brands in sports and entertainment such as Nike, Adidas, Gatorade, AT&T, and ESPN+. She’s also on the 2028 LA Summer Olympics committee.
For brands seeking a dynamic female basketball influencer, Green is an ideal collaborator, with the ability to tap into her extensive experience and social media following during basketball tentpole events.
NCAA’s NIL Policy: A Slam Dunk for Brands
The NCAA’s game-changing policy allowing student-athletes to cash in on endorsements and sponsorships has proven to be a big win for brands and basketball content creators alike. Since 2021, college ballers have been able to bank deals to profit from their name, image, and likeness.
This unlocks an unprecedented opportunity for brands to connect with NCAA hoop stars and their massive fan bases around March Madness. Brands can now collaborate on branded content and activations, providing new opportunities for both parties that didn’t exist in the past. However, the NIL laws can be a bit of a challenge because each state has its own set of rules and regulations, so brands should be aware of the respective state guidelines for any athletes they’re interested in working with.
With college athletes finally able to monetize their well-earned fame and influence, brands have the opportunity to foster early relationships with student-athletes. Getting in on the ground floor with rising college stars can pay off big-time in the future. Whether these players later go pro in the NBA or WNBA, or simply become popular content creators after their college career comes to a close, having that pre-existing connection can be a huge advantage for brands eyeing long-term partnerships. And savvy brands that identify and team up with the right NCAA influencer talent early on can build strong, lasting relationships.
Turn Your March Madness and NBA All-Star Weekend Hoop Dreams Into Reality
March Madness and the NBA All-Star Weekend provide phenomenal opportunities for brands to engage basketball enthusiasts through influencer marketing. As college players can now profit from NIL deals, the options are greater than ever.
Brands should look to partner with basketball influencers like these to develop creative social-first content that resonates with audiences during these tentpole events. From trick shots to sponsored videos, the possibilities are endless.
At Viral Nation, we help identify and broker partnerships with basketball influencers that align with your brand objectives. Whether it’s March Madness, NBA All-Star Weekend, or embedding your brand in basketball culture year-round, we can assist with executing an influencer marketing strategy that produces real results.
Let’s connect to discuss how we can make your marketing campaigns a slam dunk through partnerships with popular basketball influencers.
