CORTIS
The group CORTIS is paving the way for the promotion of the United States’ National Basketball Association.
The NBA (The National Basketball Association) announced on January 18 (local time) that it has selected CORTIS (Martin, James, Juhoon, Seonghyeon, Geonho) as “FRIENDS OF THE NBA.” “FRIENDS OF THE NBA” is a program through which the NBA collaborates with celebrities and influencers from the Asia-Pacific region to connect with fans around the world in innovative ways. The five members will take part in various activities such as attending official games and events, creating content, co-developing branded apparel and merchandise, as well as promoting the league. This collaboration is expected to highlight the breaking of boundaries between sports and music.
CORTIS stated:
“Joining “FRIENDS OF THE NBA” is a milestone we never imagined reaching so early in our debut. We continue to pursue our artistic direction “Color Outside the Lines” by delivering music that breaks out of established frameworks. That’s why we deeply resonate with the NBA’s creative and bold spirit. We are truly excited to represent the NBA and meet fans through this unique collaboration between sports and culture.”
Wayne Chang, Managing Director of NBA Asia, emphasized: “The arrival of CORTIS is a great example of the strong synergy between sports and music.” He added: “Kpop shares many similarities with the NBA in terms of passion, creativity, and global fandom. The All-Star event taking place next month in Los Angeles will mark the beginning of an unforgettable experience blending the art of basketball and Kpop with CORTIS.”
Previously, CORTIS had been invited as the headliner for the “NBA CROSSOVER CONCERT SERIES,” which will be held on February 12 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. This music concert will take place during the week of the 2026 NBA All-Star, and CORTIS will be the very first K-pop artist to perform on that stage. The announcement of their selection as “FRIENDS OF THE NBA” is therefore drawing the attention of fans around the world.
Full details of the collaboration between CORTIS and the NBA will be announced at a later date. The latest information will be available on the official website (www.nba.com/CORTIS) as well as on the global superfan platform Weverse.
Journalist: Shawn
Translator: Shawn
Source: SNS CORTIS
