SALT LAKE CITY  – The Utah Jazz marketing department and its digital team captured a “best in nation” award in the social media category at the 2016 ADchievement Awards announced last week during the 21st annual National Sports Forum in Portland, Oregon.

One of only nine national winners, the Jazz were recognized for their digital coverage of JP Gibson, a five-year-old with leukemia who signed a special one-day free agent contract in crayon with the Jazz. His participation in the team’s open scrimmage culminated in a slam dunk (with an assist from 7-foot-1 Rudy Gobert). The moment went viral, ultimately reaching more than 100 million viewers, and helped build awareness for pediatric cancer research.

Two additional Jazz marketing and creative services projects were named as finalists. A video featuring Hall of Fame coach Jerry Sloan describing the history of Vivint Smart Home Arena was also a nominee in the social media category. The design of the “We Are Utah Jazz” logo and player graphics on the exterior of the arena was a finalist for the in-stadium category.

In 2015, the Jazz received the top ADchievement Award in the print category for its 2013-14 Utah Jazz Season Highlights book.

The National Sports Forum is the largest annual cross-gathering of sports sales, sponsorship, business development and marketing executives in North America. Each year the NSF hosts the ADchievement Awards, recognizing the year’s most outstanding sports advertising campaigns in eight categories: print, television, out-of-home, in-stadium, social media, internet, sales collateral and alternative media. The winners were selected by a panel of independent advertising experts.