Bucks speak on win over Raptors, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s historic night
Doc Rivers, Gary Trent Jr., Cole Anthony and Giannis Antetokounmpo speak on win over Raptors on Oct. 24, 2025 in Toronto.
Giannis Antetokounmpo may have said “the elf word” — gasp!
We won’t tell Santa, but we don’t know about actress Ellie Kemper. You know, “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” Erin from “The Office,” Becca in “Bridesmaids,” etc.
Antetokounmpo, a star on the court, and Kemper, a star on the screen, are teaming up on a couple of new holiday commercials for Kohl’s.
If you were watching the Green Bay Packers’ game against the Pittsburgh Steelers game Oct. 26 on “Sunday Night Football,” you might’ve caught the premiere of the first of those. But, if not, it’ll be featured throughout the holiday season on broadcast and social media, Kohl’s said Oct. 27.
Kohl’s partnership with Antetokounmpo, the Milwaukee Bucks superstar, marks the first time ever that the Menomonee Falls-based retailer is working with a Milwaukee athlete on a national marketing campaign, according to the company.
Kemper, on the other hand, has become a Kohl’s ad fixture, portraying the quirky and helpful “Kohl’s Mom.” The commercials starring Kemper with Giannis are just the latest iteration of the “Kohl’s Mom” campaign, which kicked off earlier this year.
In the 15-second version of the ad, Antetokounmpo approaches Kemper inside the department store as she’s browsing Legos.
“I tried building my kids a dollhouse. And, well …,” Antetokounmpo explained to Kemper, revealing a wrapped-up right thumb. Antetokounmpo has four children with his wife, Mariah, and Kemper shares two kids with her husband, TV writer and producer Michael Koman.
“Toy-making is more of an elf thing,” Kemper said.
“I might have used the elf word,” Antetokounmpo confessed.
“Leave the building to smaller hands,” Kemper advised, handing him the Lego “Minecraft” set of “The Ghast Balloon Village Attack.”
Then, she circled back to that confession of his.
“The elf word?” she asked.
“The elf word,” Antetokounmpo confirmed.
“Santa’s going to be so mad,” she told him.
But, we do believe Antetokounmpo will be spared from the naughty list with the way he’s opened this Bucks season. Plus, Santa loves reindeer — maybe he’s a fan of Bucks, too.
The 30-second version of the spot shows Kemper lending her expertise to other holiday shoppers in addition to Antetokounmpo. There will also be a special Black Friday commercial featuring the two.
“As a company with Milwaukee roots, partnering with Giannis, someone who is so ingrained in our hometown community, felt like a natural fit,” Christie Raymond, Kohl’s chief marketing officer, said in a statement provided by the company. “As a father of four, he also understands the joy and the excitement of the holiday season, finding the perfect gifts, and he brings an infectious sense of humor that made for incredible chemistry with our Kohl’s Mom.”
Kohl’s sponsoring Bucks Holiday Game
Kohl’s said it’ll be sponsoring the Bucks Holiday Game on Dec. 18, the last home game at Fiserv Forum before Christmas. Milwaukee will be taking on the Toronto Raptors at 7 p.m. CT.
The commercials will be airing in the Kohl’s Court area, where there will be a photo opp and a hot chocolate bar, according to the retailer.
During the game, a video of the Bucks sharing their holiday hot takes will be shown — a play on an upcoming social media series with the “Kohl’s Mom.”
There will also be a limited-edition wrapping paper giveaway, Kohl’s said.