Unless they've been living under a rock, most fans who tune into the 2023 NBA Finals will immediately recognize Jimmy Butler as one of the league's premier players.
The Heat star, who has Miami on the precipice of becoming the first 8 seed to win the NBA title, has dominated like few others have in these playoffs: The six-time NBA All-Star has averaged 28.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 2.1 steals per game heading into the season-ending series vs. the Nuggets.
But there may be some fans — however few — who recognize Butler not from his basketball prowess, but his acting chops. After all, Butler has been featured heavily in several ads for Michelob Ultra, which in 2020 became the official beer of the NBA.
One of the more recent ads Butler has appeared in, known as "Airball", shows him and WNBA star Nneka Ogwumike buying drinks for each other while engaging in some friendly trash talk.
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"A refreshing Michelob Ultra, courtesy of, 'Saw your airball last night," the waiter says as he hands Butler a beer from Ogwumike — starting a humorous back-and-forth between the basketball phenoms.
Here's everything you need to know about Butler's appearance in the Michelob Ultra commercial, his WNBA co-star and the beer's partnership with the NBA:
Jimmy Butler Michelob Ultra commercial
Butler's commercial aired on Feb. 17, 2023, not only ahead of the 2023 NBA playoffs, but also well ahead of the first tip for the 2023 WNBA season. The ad shows him receiving his first beer from a waiter with the long-distance message from Ogwumike. He sends one back her way, courtesy of, "As if you've never airballed."
Not to be outdone, Ogwumike sends another Mich Ultra to Butler, courtesy of, "Actually, I never ever have." Butler gets the last laugh in the commercial as he sends one last beer to Ogwumike, courtesy of, "You know you have a highlight reel of airballs?" Ogwumike seemingly cedes this last point as she says the only line between the two players:
"Touché."
The whole commercial cleverly demonstrates the competitive nature of Butler and Ogwumike, two of the best players in their respective leagues. All while advertising the beer, of course.
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Who is in the Michelob Ultra commercial with Jimmy Butler?
Part of what makes the commercial work is the fact Butler and Ogwumike are so good in their respective leagues (thus making any airball they might have that much worse).
Ogwumike is a 12-year player for the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks. The former Stanford standout immediately lived up to her billing as the No. 1 pick of the 2012 WNBA Draft — one year after Butler was taken 30th overall. She was the league's rookie of the year in 2012 and has since become a seven-time WNBA All-Star.
She was also a first-team selection in 2016, the same season she won MVP for the WNBA champion Sparks. She is a two-time gold medalist for Team USA, helping the team to win both the 2014 and 2018 FIBA World Championships for Women in Turkey and Spain, respectively.
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Jimmy Butler Michelob Ultra contract
Butler's association with Michelob Ultra dates back to July 2020, when the NBA partnered to make the beverage the official drink of the league. The partnership was announced just ahead of the NBA's return to play in the Orlando, Fla., bubble.
In announcing the partnership, Michelob Ultra also made Butler one of its most prominent endorsers. He celebrated the return of the NBA — and the partnership — by singing Hall & Oates' "You Make My Dreams (Come True)"
"While singing in Ultra's new commercial was fun and showed a more joyful side of me, I must admit that I'm excited to bring that same spirit back to my day job," Butler said in a statement at the time. "I look forward to returning to the court and am elated for the opportunity to virtually reconnect with NBA fans. It is their energy that brings the excitement to the game and makes it all worthwhile."
The details surrounding the NBA and Butler's deal with Michelob Ultra have not been released. That said, he has featured prominently in several commercials since the partnership was announced.
