Uncle Drew, the elderly alter-ego of Cleveland Cavaliers star Kyrie Irving is back to spew some more words of wisdom to all the “young bloods” out there.
In commemoration of the Cavaliers’ first-ever title in franchise history, the leading soft drink brand has released the latest chapter in the “Uncle Drew” saga, a commercial titled “Champions Are Born Out of the Fire.”
The one-minute video centers around the titular character who is seen hitting the gym hard while explaining what it takes to be a champion.
Uncle Drew also urged viewers to chase the final bucket, as Irving did in Game 7 of the NBA Finals which ultimately sealed their victory against the Golden State Warriors.
“Buckets aren’t given away,” he cautions at the end of the clip. “Buckets are earned.”
The “Uncle Drew” storyline featuring an old geezer playing playground basketball with his equally aging buddies has become a YouTube hit in recent years. The Pepsi Max advertisement has become a mini-series and has produced four short episodes so far.
Multiple NBA stars have appeared as elderly versions of themselves in the videos—including Irving’s Cavalier teammate Kevin Love, 2-time NBA champion Ray Allen and ex-NBA player Nate Robinson. Maya Moore, who plays for the Minnesota Lynx of the WNBA, has made a cameo appearance as well. Khristian Ibarrola