MIES (Switzerland) – The NBA recently published the list of the Top 15 jersey-selling players this season. Remarkably, every one of those superstars has recently played for their national team.
This pattern raises questions about the role international basketball plays in shaping player visibility and fan engagement. Do national team appearances meaningfully expand a player’s audience beyond the NBA’s core markets, or do they simply reinforce popularity that already exists?
While international competitions provide a different stage and emotional context, it remains unclear how directly those moments translate into sustained commercial outcomes such as jersey sales.
It also invites further examination of timing and exposure. Could recent national team participation help keep players top of mind for fans during the summer months, when the NBA season is on pause?
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