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Former NBL Rookie of the Year LaMelo Ball the No. 1 selling NBA singlet in Australia

LaMelo Ball is the most popular NBA singlet in Australia, while in-form Boomers Ben Simmons, Joe Ingles and Patty Mills don’t make the top 10.

LaMelo Ball is the most popular NBA singlet in Australia while in-form Boomers Ben Simmons, Joe Ingles and Patty Mills don’t make the top 10 in sales. Picture: Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images.
LaMelo Ball is the most popular NBA singlet in Australia while in-form Boomers Ben Simmons, Joe Ingles and Patty Mills don’t make the top 10 in sales. Picture: Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images.

LaMelo Ball’s popularity has been reinforced with the former NBL Rookie of the Year securing top spot on the NBA’s most popular jerseys list in Australia.

In a testament to Ball’s status Down Under, the Charlotte Hornets guard is the first rookie to pick up top spot in singlet sales in Australia.

The 19-year-old is on track to win the NBA Rookie of the Year following a stellar season with the Hornets thus far.

Interestingly, in-form Boomers stars Ben Simmons, Patty Mills and Joe Ingles don’t feature in the top 10 most popular NBA singlets in Australia.

Ball, though, has exceeded expectations to average 14.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game.

As a result, the Hornets are playing entertaining basketball to sit in seventh position in the Eastern Conference.

Ball attracted a strong fan base in Australia during his NBL season with the Illawarra Hawks.

His popularity was on show against the Sydney Kings last year when he helped attract the biggest crowd in NBL history, with 17,514 fans attending Qudos Bank Arena.

LaMelo Ball is the first rookie to pick up top spot in NBA singlet sales in Australia. Picture: Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images
LaMelo Ball is the first rookie to pick up top spot in NBA singlet sales in Australia. Picture: Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images

Australia’s infatuation with Ball continues now he is in the NBA, as shown through his singlet sales.

Singlet results are based on sales from NBAStore.com.au, the official online NBA Store in Australia, from the beginning of the 2020-21 NBA season.

Rounding out the top five jerseys are the Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry at No. 2, the Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James at No. 3 – he led the list last year – the Brooklyn Nets’ Kevin Durant at No. 4 and the Washington Wizards’ Russell Westbrook at No. 5.

Following the Lakers on the team merchandise list are the Nets (No. 2), Warriors (No. 3), Boston Celtics (No. 4) and Hornets at No. 5.

Golden State star Steph Curry remains popular with Australian NBA fans. Picture: Getty Images.
Golden State star Steph Curry remains popular with Australian NBA fans. Picture: Getty Images.

TOP 10 MOST POPULAR NBA JERSEYS

LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets

Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors

LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers

Kevin Durant, Brooklyn Nets

Russell Westbrook, Washington Wizards

Luka Dončić, Dallas Mavericks

Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks

Steven Adams, New Orleans Pelicans

Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics

TOP 5 MOST POPULAR TEAM MERCHANDISE

Los Angeles Lakers

Brooklyn Nets

Golden State Warriors

Boston Celtics

Charlotte Hornets

Read related topics:Ben Simmons

Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/basketball/former-nbl-rookie-of-the-year-lamelo-ball-the-no-1-selling-nba-singlet-in-australia/news-story/0f907eeabc27725248ae1f0ba4affa06