The NBA released its annual list of top-selling jerseys today, but with a new twist. In the past the league would just release the top domestic jersey sellers, but today they also announced the top-selling international jersey as well. The player who sold more jerseys than anyone else internationally was none other than Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant.
Bryant, who has been one of the league’s top jersey sellers for most of the decade, led three regional subcategories in sales according to Brian Kamenetzky of ESPN Los Angeles. Bryant sold the most jerseys in China, Europe and Latin America. As Kamenetzky also points out, this is the sixth consecutive year that Bryant had the top-selling jersey in China.
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Despite leading the worldwide sales, however, Bryant was not the top seller in the United States. That title belongs to Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls. Following Rose and Bryant, LeBron James of the Miami Heat, Kevin Garnett of the Boston Celtics, and Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic rounded out the top five.
Another member of the Lakers, forward Pau Gasol, finished 11th in the standings – tops for a non-American player.