Former NBA Player Jamal Mashburn Opens Ad Agency

“Monster Mash” Jamal Mashburn has expanded his NBA career into marketing. The former forward for the Dallas Mavericks, the Miami Heat, and other teams is partnering with advertising pro Jonathan Sackett to open a new Chicago-based advertising agency called Mashburn Sackett.

With more than 18 years of experience, Sackett has worked for both leading agencies and independently owned agencies, including WPP, Omnicom, and Havas. “Jamal and I have created much more than another advertising agency,” he says on the agency’s website. “We create and execute unique platforms and opportunities for clients that none of the agencies that I’ve been a part of could ever implement.”

Mashburn is not the only sports and entertainment celebrity who has put their network into the marketplace. Spike Lee, film director and producer, founded Spike DDB with Omnicom Group in 1997. And Sean Combs, rapper and record producer, is the founder and chief executive of New York-based marketing agency Blue Flame.

Before Mashburn became chairman of the new ad agency, he launched a venture capital firm called Mashburn Justice Capital Partners last year. Today the former NBA player owns 80 restaurants (including 38 Outback Steakhouse restaurants and 40 Papa John’s pizza restaurants), several car dealerships, a realty company, and a range of other businesses.