• by Teresa Buyikian , October 21, 2024

While Chipotle has teamed up with stars in sports ranging from beach volleyball (Sara Edwards) to soccer (Sophia Smith) for its “Real Food for Real Athletes” campaign, it never featured a professional basketball player -- until now.

The brand just announced its latest TV ad will star the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards. The :30 spot will air nationally beginning tomorrow, during the Oct. 22 game between the Timberwolves and the Los Angeles Lakers. The ad is also running on social media.

Edwards isn’t only known for basketball, by also for his previously poor eating habits, as his teammates have pointed out during press conferences. The young player had been known to indulge in copious snacks and dine at fast food establishments, especially after a game.

But that was in 2022. Cut to today where, in the new ad, seen here, Edwards is where fans know him best, on the court. As the viewer sees him showing off his impressive basketball skills, he admits that he “had to get rc” which of course included his diet. As he eats a Chipotle bowl, he declares that he feels “different” about the 2024-2025 season.

“Ant [Edwards] is a prime example of how real food can play a pivotal role in elevating an athlete’s performance,” Chris Brandt, chief brand officer at Chipotle told Marketing Daily in an email. “His passion for Chipotle and what we stand for further emphasizes that our food with Integrity principles make our restaurants a great choice to help athletes reach their fitness goals.”

To accompany the new ad ,the chain has introduced the limited-time Anthony Edwards Bowl, only available via the Chipotle app and on Chipotle.com. The bowl is comprised of half chicken, half steak, brown rice, tomato salsa, roasted chili-corn salsa and lettuce.