James, Warriors merchandise top-selling in the Philippines
CLEVELAND Cavaliers star LeBron James and the Golden State Warriors, staples in the National Basketball Association finals in the last few years, topped the list of the most popular NBA jerseys in the Philippines this season, the league had announced.
Mr. James, currently leading the defending world champions Cavaliers in a first-round playoff matchup with the Indiana Pacers, had the top-selling jersey in the country, the league said, based on in-store sales from the four NBA stores in the country since the beginning of the 2016-2017 season.
The NBA did not give further details but had Mr. James at no. 1 in its rankings, followed by Golden State’s Stephen Curry at no. 2 and Kyrie Irving of the Cavaliers at no. 3.
Houston Rockets guard and league most valuable player candidate James Harden and Chicago Bulls veteran Dwyane Wade complete the top five.
Rounding out the top 10 selling jerseys in the country are those of Kawhi Leonard of the San Antonio Spurs, Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Klay Thompson of the Warriors, Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers and Jimmy Butler of the Bulls.
Meanwhile, Golden State proved itself to be the most popular as far as team merchandise is concerned.
The defending Western Conference champions, who took the opener of their first-round playoff encounter yesterday over the Blazers, bested the Cavaliers for the top spot.
Third-running were the Los Angeles Lakers, followed by the Bulls and the Spurs.
Incidentally, in the finals last year, where the Cavaliers defeated the Warriors in an epic seven-game series, NBA merchandise in the Philippines skyrocketed, recording staggering sales that were up 175% compared to the 2015 Finals, the NBA said.
The Cavaliers’ 2016 NBA Champions Locker Room T-shirt sold out in all NBA Stores in one day.
In addition, both James and Irving’s sleeved jerseys sold out in all stores after Game Seven.
NBA Stores in the Philippines are located in Manila at Glorietta 3, Mega Fashion Hall and TriNoma, and in Cebu at Ayala Center. —