Nearly 20 percent of the NBA is comprised of international players, including some of the game’s biggest stars.
But when it comes to international jersey sales, American players still dominate.
On the first list of the top 15 international jersey sales released Thursday by the NBA, the top 10 spots went to American players, with tried-and-true veteran Kobe Bryant holding the No. 1 slot.
The list was based on sales at adidas locations outside the United States during the 2011-12 season. Following Bryant were Derrick Rose, LeBron James, Kevin Garnett, Dwight Howard, Dwyane Wade, Rajon Rondo, Carmelo Anthony, Blake Griffin and Kevin Durant.
Spain native Pau Gasol occupies the 11th spot, followed by by Germany’s Dirk Nowitzki, Amar’e Stoudemire, France’s Tony Parker and Spain’s Ricky Rubio, giving international players four of the top 15 sales slots – but none of the top 10.
The NBA also released the top five jersey sales regionally, which also was dominated by Americans.
In China, it was Bryant, Rose, James, Howard and Rondo.
In Europe, it was Bryant, Rose, James, Garnett and Howard.
In Latin America, it was Bryant, James, Rose, Garnett and Wade.
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Well, there aren’t many European players that are *very* popular in other European countries other than the one they are from. You won’t find many Dirk Nowitzki jerseys in Spain and not much in the way of Gasol apparel in Germany. So I assume that jersey sales of European superstars are highly localized and thus underrepresented if you count totals across the world and I think that numbers will probably differ a bit if you only look at a single country. In most German sports stores you will find hardly any NBA gear, since basketball sadly isn’t all that popular over here. This means that the jerseys you are most likely to find are Nowitzki, Rose, Durant, Bryant, Wade and James. That’s about it, unless you count online shops or very very big stores.
PgPostUp,
I ask this seriously: Why the provincialism toward other Euro players but not American players? I get country pride; I even get it when it borders on jingoism. But I don’t get what you’re describing, which seems somewhat dismissive and close-minded. If you’re Spanish, you buy a Gasol jersey, but not a Dirk jersey? Not a Ginobili jersey? My son has a Ginobili T-Shirt and my daughter has a Dirk T-shirt because those guys are terrific players who just happen to be from Argentina and Germany, not guys from Argentina and Germany who can play a little bit. Perhaps you can explain so I can understand better having never spent prolonged time in Europe. Thanks.
Trust me, I don’t understand it either. I had a tremendous time watching Eurobasket regardless of who was playing. And I love the game of Parker, the Gasols, Rubio etc. (There is however NO way I am ever wearing a Lakers jersey). Personally, I buy gear for the team I root for, which would be the Celtics. Dirk is a great guy and awesome baller, but I don’t care about spending money on Mavs gear.
In general, from what I gather from German basketball message boards (which often focus on the BBL more than NBA), it sounds more like – sadly – the reason ireally is provincialism more than anything else. And that is also the vibe I get from soccer here (not a fan myself). And American players might be excluded because a) they are far way b) there are no soccer rivalries, c) lingering Dream Team impact and d) the fact Kobe, Melo are bigger “brands”.
But this is just kitchen sociology on my part. For all I know, people are too busy buying soccer jerseys. At my gym, seeing a guy wearing anything basketball related is a legit conversation starter. That’s how rare it is. And my town even has a BBL team.
Thanks for the insight, no matter what room in your home it came from. Keep reading us.