Kobe Jersey #1 in Europe, Gasol #3

First it was China, now it’s Europe.

After being the top selling jersey in China for two years, Kobe Bryant can truly claim to be a global brand as it was announced that his #24 is also the best selling jersey in Europe.

Bryant’s global appeal was also on display throughout the 2008 Beijing Olympics as he garnered huge cheers during the opening ceremonies and was mobbed at every event he attended.

Fellow Lakers star Pau Gasol has the most popular jersey among players hailing from Europe and is third overall. Before coming to the Lakers Gasol’s jersey was the seventh most popular in his native continent.

The full list of popular jerseys is after the jump.

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

Lakers' Lamar Odom doesn't get points for performance

Phil Jackson says that the veteran 'looks like he's either curling or doing some other kind of sport. He's not playing basketball.

The Lamar Odom experiment trudges along, slowly and shakily.  The Lakers' most versatile player had more fouls (five) than points or assists as a primary ball-handler on offense and small forward on defense in Tuesday's exhibition game against Utah.  Odom was in the starting lineup, a point of contention for him because Coach Phil Jackson suggested he might come off the bench, but his stats were insignificant other than the fouls.  In 20 minutes, Odom had three points, five rebounds and three assists.  Assistant coach Kurt Rambis said Odom's game was "fair to middling, maybe poor," and that Odom "didn't seem focused out there."

Jackson took it a step further.  "I just got through telling him that this is really basketball now," Jackson said Wednesday. "He looks like he's either curling or doing some other kind of sport. He's not playing basketball.

"The first shot he took was a three-pointer in the middle of the third quarter? That was pretty interesting."

Jackson was non-committal when asked...read full article