Want Proof That the NBA Is an International Force? Just Look at the Jerseys on the Fans in Paris
LILLE, France — The cobblestoned streets of Lille were alive with the vibrant colors of NBA jerseys as fans from around the globe gathered to witness the USA vs. Serbia basketball match at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The scene was a testament to the NBA's global reach and the passionate fandom it has cultivated across the world.
A Spectrum of Jerseys
As fans made their way through Rue du Molinet, the heart of Lille, it was clear that the NBA's influence transcended borders. Fans sported jerseys from every era and team, creating a visual mosaic of basketball history. From the iconic Vince Carter '90s-era Raptors jersey with the dribbling dinosaur to the classic Dominique Wilkins '80s-era Hawks jersey, the nostalgia was palpable.
Among the sea of jerseys, LeBron James' No. 23 Lakers jersey stood out prominently. Two fans, one in a crisp yellow jersey and the other in a royal purple, exchanged enthusiastic shouts of "LEBRON JAMES!" in their respective accents, bonding over their shared admiration for the NBA's all-time scoring champion and GOAT contender.
Popular Jerseys and Team USA
Steph Curry's jerseys were also a common sight, with fans sporting every variant of the City Edition jerseys alongside the standard Golden State home and away models. The Olympics brought a surge of Team USA jerseys, with fans proudly representing legends like Jordan, Bird, Bryant, and Iverson in the red, white, and blue.
Knowledgeable Fans
International NBA fans are not just casual observers; they are well-informed and up-to-date on all the latest gossip, behind-the-scenes drama, and prevailing narratives. In Lille, they gave Kevin Durant a warm welcome for his first game action since the playoffs and voiced their opinions on Joel Embiid's decision to play for the United States rather than France.
The NBA's International Impact
This scene is the culmination of the NBA's decades-long effort to make its game a truly international one. From the iconic 1992 Dream Team to the constant goodwill tours and the current crop of international stars like Nikola Jokić, Embiid, Luka Doncic, and Victor Wembanyama, the NBA has successfully appealed to overseas fans. The numbers speak for themselves: more than 75 percent of the league's social media followers are from outside the United States.
Players are taking notice as well. Kevin Durant, after Sunday's win over Serbia, remarked, "I looked around, I see so many different NBA jerseys in the stands. I just love when we’re getting people from all over the world, different walks of life, together like this."
The Final Stage of Fandom
While the NBA's overseas jersey domination is impressive, it's not yet complete. The fandom is currently earnest and unironic. The true mark of the NBA's global dominance will come when international fans start sporting jerseys of stars on their most obscure teams—Patrick Ewing on the Sonics, Hakeem Olajuwon on the Raptors, Rasheed Wallace on the Hawks. When that happens, the NBA will be an unstoppable global force, with international fans fully embracing the deep-cut in-jokes of basketball fandom.
In the streets of Lille, the NBA's international impact is undeniable. The jerseys worn by fans from different corners of the world are more than just pieces of clothing; they are symbols of a global basketball community united by their love for the game.