If you fail once, try, try again.
D’Angelo Russell did just that in another failed attempt to sneak his Coco5 drink, his partner, into a postgame press conference.
Following the Lakers’ Game 6 win over the Warriors on Friday to clinch a spot in the Western Conference finals, Russell guard arrived at the press conference again with the hopes of promoting a new sporting drink, Coco5.
As soon as Russell, 27, sat down at the podium with his drink, the same Lakers spokesperson rushed in to quickly take it away before the questions started rolling in.
Gatorade is the NBA’s official sports drink sponsor.
Laughs from members of the media filled the room.
Russell shook his head as she did so, and lifted his sunglasses to give her a look before starting the press conference.
He later said “Coco5” at the end of the session and the Lakers spokesperson said, “Let’s go” earnestly.
In the All-Star’s first attempt in April, he put up more of a fight against the staff to promote his brand partner.
“That drink. Put it down,” a Lakers spokesperson said to a confused Russell, who replied, “Why?”
“It’s not one of our partners,” the spokesperson said. “But it’s my partner,” Russell rebutted.
“You’re gonna have to fine me. Coco5,” as Russell plugged the brand.
“You’re gonna have to take it,” he concluded as the woman snatched it away.
This second attempt will only add to the already growing promotion, thanks to Russell, as this new attempt caught on video already has 3.1 million views as of Sunday afternoon.
Coco5 is owned by Loop Capital Markets founder James Reynolds and Russell joins Suns’ Devin Booker, the Knicks’ Derrick Rose, Charles Barkley, and others in partnering with the company.
The league has not yet announced a fine for Russell for the promotion of a non-NBA partner.
Russell and the Lakers begin their conference championship series against the Nuggets on Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. ET in Denver.