This Bud is for 3 Also Known as Dwyane Wade

This Bud is for 3 is the latest spot from Budweiser, featuring the legendary basketball player, Dwyane Wade. The spot successfully and elegantly demonstrates Wade’s impact on and off the court but focuses on the off the court part. Before watching the spot below, grab a box of tissues for the waterworks that will undoubtedly start to flow.

The Commercial

But this spot from Budweiser, featuring Wade’s mother and others he’s inspired and supported through extreme hardship, is obviously even more emotional than the usual parting salutes. Wade helped one of his fans graduate college via a full scholarship. Another lady in the spot lost everything in a house fire so Wade took her and her family on a shopping spree. He also supported yet another family of a fan who died in the Parkland shooting tragedy. In yet another example he motivated one of his fans to change his life for the better, inspiring him to go get a job. Finally, Wade’s own mother spoke about how he stood by her while she was incarcerated and he eventually bought her a church because she was a minister.

Basketball Tradition

It is a basketball tradition that athletes trade jerseys with the opposing great athlete who is retiring from the game. These fans who Wade inspired stated that they didn’t have a jersey to trade with Wade but they all gave him a token of their successes which he helped make possible. The items Wade was given included a graduation gown, a suit jacket from a job interview, a high school basketball jersey from the fan who died and a minister’s robe from his mother. This was all to show their appreciation for what he did for them and how he made their lives better.

The Agency

The agency behind the spot was VaynerMedia, New York much to my surprise. I was only surprised because Gary Vaynerchuk is more known for social media as opposed to traditional media. Guess they successfully expanding.

The Title

Budweiser is no stranger to emotional sendoffs to sports stars, and this one—called “This Bud’s for 3” in reference to Wade’s jersey number. Sorry, it’s not like you couldn’t figure out that little nugget on your own.

Conclusion

This commercial is one of the best from Budweiser, it captures human emotion brilliantly.