Hold onto your vegemite, Aussie hoops fans! Kai Sotto, the lanky Filipino center with a sky-high ceiling, has proven that Filipino basketball love transcends borders and translates to serious jersey sales.
Sure, the NBL might not be the NBA, but Sotto's Adelaide 36ers jersey landing at #9 on the league's all-time best-sellers list is a mic drop moment.
Let's unpack this. Here's a player from a basketball-crazy nation, the Philippines (often categorized as a developing country), cracking the top 10 in jersey sales for a league in a developed nation like Australia. It's a testament to the passionate Filipino fanbase, a force to be reckoned with on the global basketball scene.
Sotto might have only had a brief stint with the 36ers, but his impact was undeniable. Filipino fans Down Under and across the globe snapped up his jersey, even outselling the jersey of a current NBA player, former 36ers teammate Josh Giddey.
Now, let's not downplay the love for established NBL stars. LaMelo Ball, the flashy point guard, rightfully reigns supreme on the jersey sales throne.
But alongside him are Aussie favorites like Bryce Cotton and Mitch Creek. Interestingly, the list also includes Chris Goulding and Nathan Sobey, two players involved in the infamous "basketbrawl" incident between Gilas Pilipinas and Australia. It seems Aussie fans hold both love and...well, maybe a touch of competitive fire for these guys.
Kai Sotto's jersey sales success is more than just a number on a list. It's a symbol of the growing international influence of Filipino basketball fandom.
It's a reminder that passionate fans, regardless of background, can have a significant economic impact on the sport they love. So next time you see a Filipino rocking an NBL jersey, remember: that's the power of global hoops love in action.
Recent Kai Sotto article: Kai Sotto Highlight: Kai is now NBA-ready?
Comments
Post a Comment