NBA team placing billboards in Mississippi and Arkansas

More than 80 billboards featuring Griz players were unveiled Wednesday in the Mid-South as the team attempts to generate more enthusiasm for the upcoming season. “We started out with an aggressive television campaign that is fun. We’ve really gotten a positive response from that, and it set the tone for introducing our 10th year in Memphis,” said John Pugliese, senior director of marketing communications. “But we know it’s about our basketball team and what coach (Lionel) Hollins is putting on the court. Our ad campaign will start to shift to a focus on our players and coaches. We know we’ll have something special on the court this season.” Pugliese contends that the onslaught of billboards is the most aggressive any business has employed in the Mid-South. The Grizzlies reach far, with billboards in Mississippi and Arkansas. — Memphis Commercial Appeal