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.
| Player | Team | Country | Last FIBA Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Golden State | USA | 2024 Olympics | |
2 | LA Lakers | Slovenia | FIBA EuroBasket 2025 | |
3 | New York Knicks | USA | FIBA World Cup 2023 | |
4 | San Antonio Spurs | France | 2024 Olympics | |
5 | LA Lakers | USA | 2024 Olympics | |
6 | Minnesota Timberwolves | USA | 2024 Olympics | |
7 | Oklahoma City | Canada | 2024 Olympics | |
8 | Boston Celtics | USA | 2024 Olympics | |
9 | Denver Nuggets | Serbia | FIBA EuroBasket 2025 | |
10 | Philadephia 76ers | USA | FIBA U18 AmeriCup 2018 | |
11 | Dallas Mavericks | USA | FIBA U19 World Cup 2022 | |
12 | Houston Rockets | USA | 2024 Olympics | |
13 | Milwaukee Bucks | Greece | FIBA EuroBasket 2025 | |
14 | Detroit Pistons | USA | FIBA U19 World Cup 2019 | |
15 | Cleveland Cavaliers | USA | FIBA World Cup 2019 |
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?
FIBA