Giannis Antetokounmpo has been named the official brand ambassador for Castrol through the 2025–26 NBA season, because apparently reigning MVPs and motor oil are now a natural pairing. The partnership kicks off with a cinematic new ad airing during the NBA Playoffs, in which Giannis travels—no, not like that—across land, sea, air, and yes, space to highlight Castrol’s industrial reach. It’s less “driving to the basket” and more “driving everything, everywhere, all at once.”

But Castrol isn’t the only pit stop. Giannis will also serve as a face of bp’s TravelCenters of America, expanding the partnership’s footprint from the court to the highway rest stop. It’s all part of a broader five-year tie-up Castrol and TA inked with the NBA and WNBA last summer—a deal that increasingly looks like a strategic masterclass in cross-sport branding.

For Castrol, this is about more than lubricants—it’s about relevance. And few athletes command more cross-market charisma than Giannis, who’s beloved not just for his dominance but for his everyman charm (and meme-worthy dad jokes). He’s the kind of superstar who can convincingly sell motor oil to gearheads and late-night snacks to interstate travelers—all without breaking character.

So while some brands go small with seasonal ads, Castrol went galactic. And Giannis? He’s now officially in his Brand Ambassador Era. MVP on the court, multiverse traveler in commercials, and maybe the only person who can dunk and sell diesel in the same breath.