Ad deals and brand endorsements are compelling ways for athletes to earn outside of the league. Top league athletes are often offered product sponsorships and commercials based on their popularity. However, not all such ventures are successful. The love and respect athletes get from fans is a powerful determinant of whether a brand deal will be a success in the sports industry.

In this backdrop, senior NBA writer Marc Spears shares his views on why Damian Lillard?s product will have a different outcome than The Brow?s ruffles.?

Damian Lillard?s Gatorade will be a success in Portland amid the trade saga

The six-time NBA All-Star recently appeared in Gatorade?s latest ad campaign. The ad title ?Don?t Go Missing? satirically highlights the problem of athletes missing games due to dehydration-related infirmities. In the Sports by Northwest podcast, Marc Spears spoke about why Dame?s Gatorade will not tank like AD?s Ruffles. It is because Portland loves him. The feelings are mutual, as Lillard had earlier expressed his love for the city in conversation with Marc Spears.?

Marc said, ?What?s so unique about the Dame situation, and please correct me if I?m wrong, is that the city understands. Look, my mom, as I mentioned, my dad lived in New Orleans, like they despise, respectfully, Anthony Davis in New Orleans.?

He hilariously adds, ?I remember the last hurricane that came through. Afterwards, I went to convenience store, everything was gone except these Ruffles with Anthony Davis on it. I don?t care how lacking in food we are, we are not eating the Anthony Davis ruffles.?

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Talking about Lillard?s greatness, Marc added, ?I don?t feel like the Damian Lillard Gatorade is not gonna get off the shelves because of this in Portland. There is respect and love?the NBA at large respects him so much that nobody is gonna test that.?

Why AD?S Ruffles flopped and Dame?s Gatorade won?t

The eight-time NBA All-Star had partnered with Ruffles potato chips, but the ?Chip Deal? failed miserably in New Orleans. The reason why Anthony Davis?s ruffles tanked is because of his trade request during his time with the New Orleans Pelicans. Davis extended his contract for another five years, worth $127.17 million, with the Pelicans. He expressed his desire to be traded to another team shortly after, despite the contract extension. This did not sit well with the Pelican fans, who barraged him with criticism.?

Damian Lillard?s case is, however, different. Lillard?s agent, Aaron Goodwin, has expressed Dame?s desire to play for the Miami Heat. Despite that, he did not face the same level of fury as Davis did. It is because of the love that he shares with the city of Portland.?

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While it is still unclear which team Damian Lillard will be traded to, one thing is certain: he will excel no matter where he ends up.?