The 6 Best NBA Countdown-to-Tipoff Strategies on Instagram

When it comes to advertising the release of a product, promoting an upcoming event or getting the word out about an impending startup business, a brand’s marketing strategy is uber important. If approached creatively, you can truly excite your target audience for the benefit of whatever it is you’re wanting to advance.

With today being the final debut of all NBA teams for the 2016-2017, we take a look back at the six most creative NBA countdown-to-tipoff strategies on Instagram from a marketing standpoint. THIS is creativity at its finest.

Sacramento Kings’ 30-Day “Emoji Countdown” – @sacramentokings

Followers: 532K

Why We Like It: The Kings took a very creatively graphic approach to their countdown by creating cartoon-like images of past and present players next to an emoji column that represents a resume of some sort about each player. The face animations are nice, but the descriptive emojis took this approach to the next level.

Charlotte Hornets’ 7-Day “Facts” Countdown – @hornets

Followers: 655K

Why We Like It: For every day leading up to the first game of the season, Charlotte’s social media team opted to use a stat to highlight a particular fact about last season’s successful year or something to look forward to for this upcoming season. While you might not care about some of the tidbits that the Hornets’ social team highlighted, we can’t deny the creative, subtle approach to the new season by intertwining stats and the calendar day. It’s just different.

Atlanta Hawks’ 50-Day “Seconds” Countdown – @ATLHawks

Followers:  562K

Why We Like It: This strategy might’ve been the most tedious to produce, but nonetheless it’s fascinating. The #TrueToAtlanta social team created 50 highlights for a 50-day countdown to opening night, and each highlight is the exact amount of seconds to symbolize each day. Check out a few examples below, and try to help yourself from watching all 50.

3 Days Until Opening Night – Kent Bazemore from way downtown, in three seconds

5 Days Until Opening Night – 5 seconds of Kris Humphries throwing it down

6 Days Until Opening Night – 6-second rookie connection

50 Days Until Opening Night – 50 Seconds of Dennis Schroder’s terrorizing opposing defenses

Denver Nuggets’ 14-Day “Boomerang” Countdown – @nuggets

Followers: 439K

Why We Like It: The Nuggets opted to implement Instagram’s Boomerang app into their two-week strategy to count down the season. Players, coaches, Denver Nuggets cheerleaders and even the mascot all posed in what seems to be a photo booth with numerous props, such as enlarged mustaches, top hats and oversized sunshades. The Denver social media team went for an in-your-face plan of action with this one. Kudos.

Emmanuel Mudiay’s Boomerang (one day away)

Denver Nuggets cheerleaders’ Boomerang (four days away)

Kenneth Faried’s Boomerang (12 days away)

Los Angeles Lakers’ 30-Day “Tipoff” Countdown Presented by Hawkers – @lakers

Followers: 3.1 Million

Why We Like It: The imagery incorporated in the Lakers “Tipoff” approach is stunning to say the least. What we love the most is the caption-to-image connection, which uses short, concise lifestyle metaphors that deserve to be applauded.

No snooze necessary. Up and ready to go in 6 days. #LakersTipOff presented by @hawkersco

Coach Walton is ready to lead. 4 days until #LakersTipOff presented by @hawkersco

Study time is over. We’re pressing play in 3 days. #LakersTipOff presented by @hawkersco

Phoenix Suns’ 30-Day “Behind-The-Scenes” Countdown – @suns

Followers: 506K

Why We Like It: For a more personal, in-depth game plan, the Phoenix Suns social team nailed it with the 30 video shorts that provide a behind-the-scenes look at practices, the equipment room, weightlifting sessions and many other aspects of Talking Stick Resort Arena. Together, all 30 shorts seemingly tell a sociable story. Much like the Atlanta Hawks’ approach, you can spend oodles of time watching them.

1 Day Until Opening Night
2 Days Until Opening Night
3 Days Until Opening Night