Being selected to the All-Star game is one of the greatest honours an NBA player can receive – it's a perfect combination of recognition from the fans, other players, and the coaches that gameplan for them on a nightly basis.
While the numbers and performances often speak for themselves, sometimes the fans need a little more persuasion and almost every year, teams and players develop creative – and oftentimes hilarious – campaigns to win a few voters over.
Here's a look back at some of the best from years past…
Chris Bosh, 2008
In his fifth year with the Raptors, Bosh drew back to his Texas roots when he played the role of a used car salesman – heavy southern drawl and all – urging fans to send him to the 2008 All-Star Game in New Orleans.
It worked. Bosh was selected as a reserve for the game and ended up replacing an injured Kevin Garnett as a starter. In 21 minutes, the car selling forward finished with 14 points and seven rebounds.
Steve Nash, 2010
Canada’s own two-time MVP has a great sense of humour and isn’t afraid to poke fun at himself. While still with the Suns, Nash launched a rather unconventional with a personal statement asking for votes while a reel of hilarious lowlights played.
Thanks in part to the video, Nash earned his seventh career All-Star selection, dishing out 13 assists in less than 20 minutes as the West dropped a two-point decision to the East.
Rudy Gay, 2011
Things began to heat up in 2011 with the commercial parodies. First up is Rudy Gay, or as the Memphis Grizzlies dubbed him “The Most Interesting Man in the NBA." Gay was not selected for the game, but the commercial is still worth discussion nearly eight years later.
Kevin Love, 2011
Before joining LeBron James and the Cavs in 2014, Kevin Love was quietly putting up some insane stat lines in Minnesota. This 2011 All-Star campaign is a mock cologne advertisement for “Numb#rs”.
Love would go on to earn the first of five All-Star selections that year.
Lance Stephenson, 2014
The air guitar. The dances. His approach to the game.
It’s clear Lance Stevenson loves playing basketball and he has fun doing it. In this 2014 All-Star campaign, Lance has plenty of fun taking on the role of Sir Lancealot, showing how bad he wanted to be sent to the All-Star Game in New Orleans. He didn't make it, but the effort is certainly appreciated.
DeMarcus Cousins, 2016
In an homage to the classic Coke commercial featuring “Mean” Joe Greene, Boogie shows his softer side when he gives his headband – drenched in sweat – to a young Kings fan. The ad leaves fans with the message to "Cast a vote and a smile."
Cousins was selected as a reserve in the 2016 All-Star Game, where he would score 11 points on a perfect 5-for-5 shooting night.
Andre Drummond, 2016
You can’t help but appreciate the effort here, as Detroit took the Presidential approach. The Pistons spliced up video of America’s 44th President Barack Obama reciting the lyrics to “Jumpman” while saying “Drummond” on the hook.
The inclusion of the “Woo!” takes this one over the top, and extra points for using a Drake song the year Toronto hosted its first-ever All-Star Game. Drummond earned his first All-Star selection that season and finished with 16 points and 13 rebounds as a reserve.
Karl-Anthony Towns, 2016
Who doesn’t appreciate nickname puns? Who doesn’t like adorable animals?
Minnesota combined the best of both worlds when KAT and his cat look to be sent to the All-Star Game in Toronto after travelling all across the globe. Towns failed to make it in 2016, which was his rookie season, but he did earn Rookie of the Year honours.
It's fair to assume this video had some type of residual effect.
Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan and Chris Paul, 2017
It’s fair to say no one knows you better than your teammates. The Clippers put this theory to the test in the last year of the “Lob City” regime when Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan and Chris Paul each donned masks of their teammates to lobby for votes.
1-for-3 isn't bad, as Jordan earned his first and only All-Star selection of his career so far in 2017.
BONUS: The 2009 Slam Dunk Contest
It wasn’t for the All-Star Game but in 2009, the league had dunk contest hopefuls campaign for the final spot in the contest’s field. With that said, enjoy the musical stylings of a young Russell Westbrook
And a guitar solo from Rudy Fernandez, who was selected.