Key keywords: Anthony Davis, Craig Melvin, decoy bourbon prank, Today Show celebrity segment, Los Angeles Lakers star, AD bourbon brand, NBA prank viral clip The viral clip of Los Angeles Lakers superstar Anthony Davis pranking veteran NBC Today Show host Craig Melvin with a fake bottle of his signature bourbon has swept across social media platforms, amassing more than 15 million views across TikTok, X, Instagram and YouTube in just 72 hours. Davis appeared on the morning talk show last week to promote his newly launched small-batch bourbon label, Davis Straight Batch, which he spent three years developing with a family-owned distillery in Kentucky. He arrived at the studio with two nearly identical bottles: one holding his official 92-proof bourbon reserved for the planned post-interview toast with the cast, and a second decoy bottle with an exact match of his brand’s label, filled with a non-alcoholic, extremely tart green apple and lemon cider blend he created specifically for the prank. When the conversation shifted to his new spirit line mid-interview, Davis told Melvin he wanted to give him an exclusive first taste of a “test batch” that had not yet been released to the public. Melvin, who has repeatedly shared his love for craft bourbon during past on-air segments, enthusiastically accepted the offer and took a large, unassuming sip. The live camera captured the exact moment Melvin’s face twisted in shock, as he realized the liquid was far from the smooth, oaky bourbon he expected. He coughed, laughed out loud, and yelled “Wait a minute, that is NOT bourbon! That is so sour, what did you put in this?” as Davis doubled over in laughter, holding up the real bottle to the camera to reveal the prank. The rest of the Today Show cast, including Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb, who were watching the segment from off-camera, could be heard cackling loudly in the background as Melvin reached for a glass of water to wash out the taste. Davis later explained that he planned the prank three weeks in advance, after a show producer mentioned Melvin was a big fan of craft bourbon and had been looking forward to trying his new line. He emphasized that the decoy drink was completely safe, caffeine-free and non-alcoholic, and that he brought a full case of his real bourbon for the entire cast and crew to enjoy after the segment wrapped. The unscripted, lighthearted moment quickly resonated with viewers, who praised Davis’s playful off-court personality and Melvin’s good-natured reaction to the joke.