-- Official Automotive Partner Expands its Digital and Social Fan Engagement Programs --

NEW YORK, Oct. 17, 2017 – The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Kia Motors America, Inc. today announced a new multiyear marketing partnership extension across the NBA, WNBA and NBA G League.  In addition to continuing to serve as the Official Automotive Partner across all three leagues, Kia will become more involved with the NBA Draft as an associate partner and will remain the title partner of key on court platforms, including Kia NBA Tip-Off, Kia NBA All-Star MVP and the Kia NBA Performance Awards (MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, Most Improved Player, Sixth Man and Rookie of the Year).

To further reinforce the brand’s association with top NBA performances, Kia will enhance its Top Plays platform and continue as the title partner of the monthly Performance Awards, recognizing the top player and rookie from each conference. Also, the season long #KiaWhoYaGot sweepstakes, which gives fans the opportunity to predict the winner of key matchups on NBA social channels, will resume during Kia NBA Tip-Off.

“The partnership between the NBA and Kia has been pivotal in increasing brand and consumer awareness and an uptick in consideration of the Kia brand, and we are excited to extend our partnership and continue connecting with the league and its passionate fans,” said Saad Chehab, Vice President of Marketing Communications, Kia Motors America.  “Both Kia and the NBA have a broad appeal across a large segment of the consumer public and through this partnership we hope to keep Kia top-of-mind among the confident, independent NBA fans and drive them, literally to Kia’s showrooms.”

“Kia has been deeply integrated into the year-round NBA experience since becoming a partner in 2008,” said Kerry Tatlock, NBA Senior Vice President, Global Partnerships.  “We’re excited to continue to grow the partnership by building upon all of the engagement programs that connect Kia with the diverse fans across the league’s channels.”

Kia has partnerships with 11 NBA teams: the Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, LA Clippers, Miami Heat, New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers and Phoenix Suns.

The 2017-18 NBA season begins on Tuesday, Oct. 17 as part of Kia NBA Tip-Off 2017. 

About the NBA
The NBA is a global sports and media business built around three professional sports leagues: the National Basketball Association, the Women’s National Basketball Association and the NBA G League.  The league has established a major international presence with games and programming in 215 countries and territories in 49 languages, and NBA merchandise for sale in more than 125,000 stores in 100 countries on 6 continents.  NBA rosters at the start of the 2016-17 season featured a record 113 international players from 41 countries and territories.  NBA Digital’s assets include NBA TV, NBA.com, NBA App and NBA LEAGUE PASS.  The NBA has created one of the largest social media communities in the world, with 1.4 billion likes and followers globally across all league, team, and player platforms.  Through NBA Cares, the league addresses important social issues by working with internationally recognized youth-serving organizations that support education, youth and family development, and health-related causes.