This holiday season, Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards showed up in the new Sprite Cranberry commercial, taking over as “Anta Claus.” I have to admit, I was actually surprised at how well he pulled it off. It’s honestly just nice to see someone new bring a different vibe for once. Maybe I’ll get called a hater for this, but I’m way more into this new commercial than the old one with animated LeBron James. The way I see it, it’s like swapping out an old, overplayed song for something fresh that actually makes you want to listen.
Look, I get it. The LeBron version was iconic, especially with that “Wanna Sprite Cranberry?” line. But let’s be real, after the first week, it got old fast. The jingle was catchy, sure, but did anyone actually want to hear it on repeat starting in mid-November 2017? I remember my friends and I would just yell it at each other during recess, pretending we were in the commercial, and sometimes someone would blurt it out in class just to get a laugh (and yeah, we got in trouble for it more than once). Most people don’t agree with me and keep saying LeBron needs to come back because he’s the face of “Spritemas.” I get the nostalgia, and I know that “Wanna Sprite Cranberry?” basically took over pop culture with all the memes, viral videos, and remixes. If you were around in 2017, Sprite Cranberry and LeBron were basically glued together.
I was only seven years old and in 2nd grade when I first saw the LeBron commercial, and honestly, I thought it was cool that Sprite got an NBA player in their ad. The next day at school, that’s all anyone could talk about: “Wanna Sprite Cranberry?” or “Did you see that commercial?” It felt like everyone was obsessed. The commercial blew up on YouTube, hitting over a million views in the first week. People even made weird little games about it, and I remember YouTuber CoryxKenshin playing one right after it dropped. The whole thing just exploded in the media. Even now, it’s wild to me that Ant-Man is the new Sprite guy. Years later, though—after the memes kept spreading, the ad kept airing, and people would not stop talking about it—I’d had enough. It started to irk me every time the commercial came on and social media went crazy for it. The commercial didn’t stop airing until the holiday season of 2021. I was in 6th grade at the time, so while its disappearance was shocking, it was also a relief. It finally seemed like people were starting to let go of the silly commercial.
People need change because it brings a fresh perspective and keeps things from becoming stagnant. People need change, or things just get boring. The new Anthony Edwards commercial actually made me care about Sprite Cranberry again. I get why some of my classmates still love the old LeBron ad—it’s all about nostalgia and memories. But honestly, switching things up is what keeps pop culture interesting. That’s why I liked seeing Anthony Edwards in the “Obey Your Thirst” commercial back in April 2024. He nailed it.
But a lot of people at RHS might not agree with me, especially the students who remember seeing the LeBron ad when it first came out. Sophomore Makai told me, “It allowed for more interaction. The song was more iconic and fun, and I didn’t want to skip it. It didn’t feel like a legit advertisement in the sense that I didn’t want to skip.” Basically, that ad hit a nerve in a good way and kind of became “unskippable.” The LeBron commercial turned into this nostalgic thing people feel attached to, so viewers like Makai are way less likely to click away. Plus, it was this rare, hyped-up ad with a superstar like LeBron, and everyone online was talking about it, which helped it dodge the usual ad burnout. Junior Lily said, “LeBron’s ad was more than just a commercial; it was a part of our holiday traditions. I feel like something’s missing without LeBron asking me if I want a Sprite Cranberry.” Another student, David, shared, “Seeing LeBron in the ad always reminds me of sitting around with friends during our winter break, laughing and quoting the ad together.” These varied opinions demonstrate just how deeply the LeBron ad resonated with the audience, creating lasting memories.
I have to disagree. Anthony’s first holiday appearance in 2025 actually surprised me. The new commercial felt way fresher than the LeBron one. The story was better, Anthony actually acted, and for once, I actually wanted to go out and buy a Sprite Cranberry instead of just watching the ad. The holiday parties looked way more fun, the eight tiny wolf-deer were a cool Timberwolves reference, and the narration was on point. But what really made Anthony stand out was his humor. At one point, he winks at the camera and the narrator says, ‘And for once in his life, Ant hit nothing but brick.’ That’s a clever nod to his basketball skills and the theme of the ad. LeBron’s version just leaned on nostalgia, but Anthony brought a playful energy that actually made the ad fun to watch. He honestly fits the face of Sprite, not just for the holidays. Like I said, his ‘Obey Your Thirst’ commercial in 2024 was perfect.
It’s fine to be nostalgic. I’m not saying you have to forget “Wanna Sprite Cranberry?” That’s never going away. But at some point, people need to move on. What really gets me is when nostalgia turns into straight-up brainrot. Like, when someone is so obsessed with LeBron and that commercial that they can’t think about anything else. I had a friend in class who just kept repeating “Wanna Sprite Cranberry?” when we were supposed to be working. It was funny at first, but after a while, it was just annoying.
In 2024, LeBron was everything. He was the GOAT, the king, the lord Jesus Christ—he was everything to social media. All you heard at school was people saying LeBron was the GOAT. Most people didn’t even care about NBA stats; they just said LeBron was the best because he was LeBron. Anthony Edwards never got that kind of hype, but honestly, it annoys me that people are still stuck on LeBron’s “GOAT” status, with comments like “BRING BACK LEKING!” It’s time for something new, and Ant-Man actually delivered big-time.
I’d love to hear from everyone about their favorite Sprite commercial or NBA endorsement. Maybe you enjoyed the energy of Anthony Edwards in his ‘Anta Claus’ role, or maybe the iconic LeBron James commercial holds a special place in your heart. Let’s kick things up a notch with a fun challenge: Best Sprite ad impression wins bragging rights! Convince me LeBron is still the GOAT of Sprite ads or show some love for Ant-Man. Jump into the debate and share your thoughts on why these commercials impacted you.
