LeBron James' 76ers jersey sets Fanatics sales record for new-team player merchandise
LeBron James' Philadelphia 76ers jersey became the top-selling new-team player item across all sports on Fanatics within 48 hours of his free-agency announcement.
LeBron James' decision to join the Philadelphia 76ers generated a surge in merchandise sales, according to data from online retailer Fanatics. Within the first 48 hours after the announcement, the new 76ers jersey recorded the highest volume ever for a player changing teams across all sports, surpassing the previous record set by Shohei Ohtani's move to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2023. Fanatics also reported that more James-related products were sold in the first 24 hours than during the entire first week after he signed with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018.
The retailer noted that James merchandise occupied eight of the ten best-selling items across its sports categories since the announcement. James, 41, signed a two-year contract worth $8 million with the Sixers, describing the deal as his "last decision" and indicating it may be his final opportunity to win an NBA title.
In a post on the social platform X, James said he had considered retiring after the previous season but decided to continue playing, adding that he still loves the game and is ready to "sacrifice" and "grind" for his new team. The Sixers, who recently acquired forward Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics, are expected to field a starting lineup featuring James, Brown, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and V.J. Edgecombe as they aim for a championship in the 2026-27 season.