LeBron James' 76ers jersey breaks all-time Fanatics sales record for player joining new team across all sports - Fox Business

What the report says

Fox Business reported that LeBron James’ newly released Philadelphia 76ers jersey set a Fanatics sales record tied to a star athlete changing teams. Citing Fanatics records, the outlet said the jersey posted the strongest first 48 hours ever for merchandise of a player joining a new team, surpassing the mark linked to Shohei Ohtani’s 2023 move to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The report said demand for James’ 76ers gear was also higher in the first 24 hours after his announcement than sales from the first week after he joined the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018. Since Friday, Fox Business reported, James-related items made up eight of the 10 best-selling products across Fanatics’ sports retail network.

According to the article, James chose Philadelphia in free agency and is set to enter his 24th NBA season with his fourth team on a two-year, $8 million deal. Fox Business described the move as a major discount for the 41-year-old, who framed the decision as potentially his final NBA stop. The report also said the 76ers had acquired Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics, adding him to a projected lineup with James, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and V.J. Edgecombe.

The development matters because James remains one of the NBA’s most commercially powerful players, and early jersey sales suggest immediate fan and retail impact from the reported move. Fox Business also presented the signing in championship terms, noting Philadelphia’s playoff exit against the New York Knicks and the team’s hopes that the additions can lift its title chances.