A New Face for Sprite’s Holiday Campaign

In 2017, Sprite launched a holiday-themed animated commercial featuring LeBron James that introduced the now-iconic catchphrase “Wanna Sprite Cranberry?” The advertisement quickly went viral, becoming a popular meme and cementing itself as a modern holiday pop-culture staple. Each year since, Sprite has revived the campaign with LeBron as its central figure, making him synonymous with the brand’s seasonal marketing. Because of this long streak, I was genuinely surprised when I saw this year’s holiday commercial and noticed that, for the first time in eight years, LeBron was not involved. Instead, the new ad features Anthony Edwards, a rising NBA star whose charisma and increasing popularity have made him one of the league’s most marketable young players.

Watching the commercial felt noticeably different. As someone who closely follows basketball and online culture, the LeBron versions of the ad always carried a distinct holiday charm that was rooted not only in the animation but also in the nostalgia, humor, and memes that had grown around the campaign. This year’s commercial has not yet generated the same level of cultural traction. Social media engagement remains relatively low, and sports media pages have not amplified the new partnership as much as they did with LeBron. However, this does not mean the campaign lacks potential. Anthony Edwards has a large digital following, and his bold and charismatic personality makes him a strong choice for Sprite as the company explores new creative directions for a younger audience.

Although LeBron’s absence marks the end of an era for Sprite’s holiday advertising, the shift to Anthony Edwards represents a meaningful opportunity. With the right creative approach and continued audience engagement, Edwards will build on the cultural foundation that LeBron established and eventually carry the tradition forward in his own style. Change can be surprising, especially when it replaces a seasonal ritual, but this new direction allows Sprite to refresh the campaign while tapping into the momentum of the NBA’s next generation of stars.