On the eve of what could be the official coronation of LeBron James winning not his 4th, his 3rd or even his 2nd but perhaps his first NBA championship comes a reminder that he’s just starting his trek to ascend the hoops hierarchy. For the first time ever the NBA released figures for the top selling jerseys internationally and to the surprise of all those that value hype over actual accomplishments Kobe Bryant stands atop the global hoops community.
While the U.S. is eager to bury Kobe’s career while it’s still breathing, the world continues to embrace the NBA’s most accomplished active player. Of course right behind KB24 is LBJ6 (doesn’t quite have the same ring to it but then again KB8 was so much cleaner anyway).
Digging even further into the numbers reveals Kobe leads in the all important markets of China and Europe, the two biggest basketball communities outside of the States. Just furthers the proof that winning trumps all in the eyes of the world.
Then again, aside from Kobe only Kevin Garnett has a ring among the players that comprise the top 5 in international sales.
Pau Gasol checks in at 11th, ranking as the most popular of jerseys sold for non-U.S. Americans