NEW YORK, Oct. 8, 2008 – Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers tops the list of most popular NBA jerseys in Europe. Bryant was No. 4 on the list at the beginning of the 2007-08 NBA season. Kevin Garnett of the 2008 NBA Champion Boston Celtics makes his debut on this year’s list at No. 2. The popularity of basketball and the NBA in Europe has led to record growth for the NBA’s merchandise business in the region. The Most Popular NBA Jerseys in Europe list is based on sales from retail locations across Europe during the 2007-08 NBA season.

Jerseys of European players make up half of the list with Spain’s Pau Gasol of the Lakers moving up four spots from last season to No. 3; while France’s Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs drops two spots to No. 5. Italy’s Andrea Bargnani of the Toronto Raptors moved up one spot from last year to No. 7. European players appearing on the list for the first time include Marco Belinelli of the Golden State Warriors (No. 9) and Spain’s Jose Calderon of the Toronto Raptors (No. 10). International players make up approximately 20 percent of NBA rosters.

The NBA's merchandising business in the region has doubled in the last five years to include over 60 partners distributing NBA products to more than 16,000 retail locations. International sales account for more than 25 percent of the league’s overall global merchandise business.

Top 10 Most Popular NBA Jerseys in Europe:

1. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
2. Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics
3. Pau Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers
4. LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
5. Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs
6. Allen Iverson, Denver Nuggets
7. Andrea Bargnani, Toronto Raptors
8. Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
9. Marco Belinelli, Golden State Warriors
10. Jose Calderon, Toronto Raptors

The NBA’s global popularity draws more than 1 million annual visitors to the NBA Store in New York City. International tourists make up more than 40 percent of visitors. The NBA Store achieved its most successful season ever in 2007-08, with a sales increase of 25 percent.

The Miami Heat, New Jersey Nets, New Orleans Hornets and Washington Wizards will play preseason games in Barcelona, Berlin, London and Paris in October as part of NBA Europe Live presented by EA SPORTS™. After the 2008 NBA Europe Live Tour, NBA teams will have played 48 games in 18 different cities throughout Europe over the past two decades.