NBA star Blake Griffin is continuing his relationship with Kia through the 2012-2013 season, starring in new commercials for the automaker's best-selling Optima. The athlete will be the centerpiece of five 30-second ads, where he will offer suggestions and advice to younger versions of himself as he drives his Kia sedan as if it received some special vehicle maintenance that turned it into a time machine.
"Griffin is one of the most exciting and recognizable young athletes in the world, and this latest campaign pairs Griffin's basketball wisdom and athleticism with the youthful style, performance and cutting-edge technology of our wildly popular Optima midsize sedan," said Michael Sprague, executive vice president of marketing & communications at Kia.
The first two commercials, "Free Throw" and "Football," which go back to 1995 and 1997, respectively, feature Griffin using the Kia's new UVO voice-activated infotainment system to visit his younger self. With classic music blasting, Griffin tells himself to stop playing football and work on his free throws, a skill that has plagued him in the past, The New York Times reports.
The remaining three commercials will make their debut throughout the basketball season, and viewers can expect to see Griffin make an appearance in the automaker's Super Bowl advertisements, as well.