February 6, 2024

Brooklyn Nets, New York Liberty Partner with CBD Drink Company

The NBA's Brooklyn Nets and the WNBA's New York Liberty have become the first teams in their respective leagues to partner with a CBD beverage company.

CBD (Cannabidiol) beverage company Mynd Drinks has become partners with two major New York sports teams, the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets and the WNBA’s New York Liberty.

According to Marijuana Moment, the Nets and Liberty are the first teams in their respective leagues to partner with a CBD beverage company.

Mynd Drinks touts itself as a 100% plant-based hemp-infused wellness and recovery drink. This partnership takes place several months after the NBA (National Basketball Association) relaxed its rules prohibiting players from using marijuana. Mynd Drinks inked a deal last year with Major League Baseball’s Chicago Cubs.

In a written statement reported by BNN Bloomberg, Mynd Drinks CEO Simon Allen said, “This gives us an anchor for the East Coast in terms of exposure, marketing, and expansion. We’ve had tons of opportunities to work with different teams but what we really liked about both of the teams was they shared a lot of what our vision was.”

Mynd Drinks will be available for purchase at Nets and Liberty games as well as other events at the home of both teams, the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. Going forward, the brand will also be a presenting sponsor for the Liberty’s theme night during the WNBA regular season.

The NBA has removed marijuana from the league’s anti-drug testing program. The league agreed to a collective bargaining agreement with the NBAPA (National Basketball Players Association) allowing players to strike deals with companies in the CBD field. This means that players can now invest or own passive, non-controlling stakes in CBD companies that produce oils, creams, drinks, pills, and powders.

Yet, the agreement doesn’t allow the players to promote marijuana—unless they get permission from the NBA and NBAPA to promote a CBD product that is produced by a marijuana company.