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‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Assembles the NBA in Epic Season-Opening Crossover Promo

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Marvel has never been shy about crossing over into the sports world, and the new ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ NBA promo might be its boldest team-up yet. Disney’s sports and superhero brands have joined forces before, with ESPN and Marvel previously teaming up for a special edition game called ‘Marvel’s Arena of Heroes’ between the Golden State Warriors and New Orleans Pelicans.

That earlier experiment brought Iron Man, Black Panther, Captain Marvel, Captain America, Black Widow, and Doctor Strange into a live telecast through 3D virtual characters, custom graphics, and animation packages. Its storyline even saw the Avengers scouting NBA stars as potential recruits to fight alongside them.

Now, the partnership has returned just in time for tip-off. On October 20, a new ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ promo was released in partnership with the NBA, featuring the words “NBA Is Back” in the franchise’s signature metallic lettering, bathed in an eerie green glow that echoes the film’s Doctor Doom-heavy marketing.

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The spot casts the league’s players as the Avengers in a cross-collaboration with the upcoming blockbuster. As Lainey Gossip pointed out, the partnership keeps things in the family since ESPN is owned by Disney.

The promo quickly lit up social media as fans celebrated both the return of basketball and their anticipation for Marvel’s next big event. Not everyone was fully satisfied, though, with some viewers wishing their favorite teams and stars had received more screen time.

The timing couldn’t have been better. October 20 marked the start of the NBA’s 81st season, which tipped off with the first-ever season-opening tripleheader on NBC and Peacock.

The day opened with a rare 3 p.m. ET matinee between the Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons. Next came the Philadelphia 76ers visiting the defending champion New York Knicks, marking LeBron James’ first appearance with Philadelphia, before the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs closed out the night in a Western Conference Finals rematch.

Interest in the league is running high. The 2025-26 regular season drew 170 million viewers across ABC/ESPN, Amazon Prime Video, NBC/Peacock, and NBA TV, the most in 24 years. The crossover makes plenty of strategic sense for Disney. ABC and ESPN are entering their 25th straight season of NBA coverage and will broadcast 80 regular-season games, including a 5-game Christmas Day slate.

That holiday lineup lands just one week after ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ hits theaters. Christmas Day will even feature a rematch of the 2026 NBA Finals as the Knicks host the Spurs.

This also isn’t the first time NBA fans have connected with the film. When Robert Downey Jr.’s return to the MCU as Doctor Doom was revealed, Clutch Points asked fans to explain it in basketball terms, with many comparing it to Michael Jordan’s return to the NBA.

The promo is the latest piece of an aggressive marketing campaign. The film has already released several teasers, including the first trailer confirming Chris Evans’ return as Steve Rogers, and Marvel notably skipped a Super Bowl spot for the movie this year.

Directed by the Russo brothers, ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ brings Downey back as Victor von Doom, with Chris Hemsworth returning as Thor in his warrior persona last seen in ‘Avengers: Infinity War’. The film is part of Phase 6 of the MCU, with ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ following on December 17, 2027. ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ hits theaters on December 18, 2026.

Which NBA star would you most like to see suit up as an Avenger in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’?

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