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My Hero Academia Expands National Basketball Association Partnership

The My Hero Academia franchise announced on Wednesday it is expanding its partnership with the National Basketball Association (NBA). A Crunchyroll press release proclaims the partnership will see “a unique mix of fan-favorite characters from the beloved anime paired with iconic NBA teams.” The featured My Hero Academia characters and NBA teams are Izuku “Deku” Midoriya (Boston Celtics), Katsuki Bakugo (New York Knicks), Ochaco Uraraka (Miami Heat), Shoto Todoroki (Philadelphia 76ers), Eijiro Kirishima (Chicago Bulls), Endeavor (Golden State Warriors), and Mirko (Los Angeles Lakers). The apparel line is set to include t-shirts and hoodies.

Crunchyroll VP of Global Consumer Products Anna Songco Adamian commented on the collaboration, “From friendship against all odds to working with a team to overcome any challenge, ‘My Hero Academia’ is the perfect series for continued collaboration with the NBA, NBALAB and HYPERFLY.This year's collab is even bigger, featuring an expanded character list including fan favorites Izuku Midoriya, Katsuki Bakugo, Ochaco Uraraka, and more," aid Songco Adamian.

NBALAB CEO Eric Perugini echoed a similar sentiment: "At NBALAB, we love surprising fans with collaborations they never saw coming. By teaming up with Crunchyroll and Hyperfly on this latest collection, we're blending the spirit of the NBA with the world of My Hero Academia to create gear that's as fun, dynamic, and heroic as the fans who wear it.”

The My Hero Academia and NBA collaboration apparel will be available at BoxLunch, select NBA stores, and online. The collection is also available at the NBA flagship store in New York City during New York Comic Con.

The My Hero Academia and NBA collaboration debuted in 2023 and featured My Hero Academia Character All Might on t-shirts for the Chicago Bulls, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, and New York Knicks.

Source: Press release