CarMax named official auto retailer of the NBA and WNBA

RICHMOND, VA. – CarMax, Inc. (NYSE: KMX), the nation’s largest retailer of used cars, today announced a new partnership with the NBA, WNBA and Turner Sports. As part of the multiyear agreement, CarMax is now the official auto retailer of the NBA and WNBA – the first automotive retail partnership in WNBA history – as well as the presenting partner of NBA Tip-Off on TNT.

CarMax’s inaugural season as an NBA partner will premiere on Tuesday, Dec. 22 with TNT’s NBA Tip-Off presented by CarMax — featuring the Emmy®-Award winning studio team of host Ernie Johnson and analysts Hall of Famer Charles Barkley, two-time NBA champion Kenny Smith, and four-time NBA champion Shaquille O’Neal — followed by a doubleheader on TNT starting at 7 p.m. ET to tip off the 2020-21 NBA season.  CarMax will also see in-game exposure across TNT’s 66-game NBA regular-season broadcasts, and on NBA TV broadcasts and digital platforms, as well as on TNT’s NBA Playoff games, which culminate with the network’s exclusive presentation of the 2021 NBA Eastern Conference Finals.

The league partnership expands upon CarMax’s long-standing history of NBA team relationships, including the designation of official auto retailer sponsor of the LA Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers and Golden State Warriors.

“CarMax has had strong partnerships with local teams in the NBA ecosystem for more than a decade and we are excited to expand our relationship and brand awareness at the league level,” said Jim Lyski, Executive Vice President and CMO at CarMax. “The NBA, WNBA and CarMax are all innovative brands dedicated to delivering an exceptional experience for fans and customers. Like CarMax, the NBA and WNBA are passionate about giving back to our local communities and we look forward to continuing to make an impact together in the years to come.”

“CarMax has been woven into the fabric of the NBA for many years through successful relationships with NBA teams,” said Dan Rossomondo, NBA Senior Vice President, Media and Business Development.  “We’re looking forward to collaborating with CarMax on a larger scale moving forward and creating unique opportunities for engagement with fans of both the NBA and WNBA.”

In CarMax’s upcoming “Call Your Shot” campaign, the company is debuting partnerships with four-time WNBA champion Sue Bird and three-time NBA champion Stephen Curry, as well as bringing back two-time AT&T NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion Zach LaVine, and newly acquired Golden State Warrior Kelly Oubre, Jr., for the second year of the content series. The “Call Your Shot” campaign highlights the parallels of players’ on-court confidence with the confidence CarMax instills in its customers.  Award-winning journalist Adrian Wojnarowski is also featured in the series.

In addition to CarMax’s NBA, WNBA, TNT, and talent partnerships, The CarMax Foundation is also partnering with Stephen and Ayesha Curry’s co-founded Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation, KABOOM!, and the Oakland Unified School District to build a new schoolyard at Franklin Elementary School in Oakland, California.  Students at Franklin Elementary will have the opportunity to provide input for the design of the playspace, which will include a new playground, multi-sport court, and garden.  The project is estimated to be completed in early 2021 and in anticipation for students’ return to in-person learning.  The isolation brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrates in dramatic effect how valuable playspaces are for children and this project is an example of what’s possible when partners and communities come together to address the needs of kids, especially in times of crisis.

For game and national-television schedules across ABC, ESPN, TNT and NBA TV for the first half of the 2020-21 NBA season, visit NBA.com, where fans can find star matchups, thrilling game action and exciting storylines across the league #OnlyHere in the NBA.