Honestly, does anyone other then Jordan....

[ThoseBackPages]

have the ability to have long term TRUE "Global" appeal?

i think that Michael Jordan will ALWAYS be popular across the globe.

Do you guys think that anyone else will be?

The reason that i ask is for a project im working on. Naturally its card related (lol)

Im picking up affordable PSA Jordans for my Godson (he's 14 months old) because
i feel that when hes older, MJ will still be Globally popular.

Im also picking up Gretzky, Montana/Marino/Elway because those are the timeless legends
from their sports that his father and i grew up watching.

id love to add Brid/Magic, but basketball cards are slim pickin's in the 80s.

So, i'd love to hear if you guys feel that there are any other NBAers that i should be adding (and please tell me why)

 

[hookem99]

Lebron and Kobe both by the end of their carrer (if Lebron wins a ring) will go down in the top ten of all time. Both have global appeal go to China you will see their jerseys people in Mexico know them to and so do people all over Europe. Plus ask non sports fans everywhere and they reconise those names. Plus the way these two are marketed their brand and names will be distributed way more than bird and magic ever were, and they will stay relavent like many former stars find a way to do. so i think those two are safe bets.

 

[KOBEARODLT]

basically all STAR basketball players have global appeal, thats why most all of the extreme high end cards are either pulled by or bought by overseas buyers, honestly thats who buy most all of my basketball cards when i sell..they shell out major cash for lebron, kobe, wade and all the young stars rose, durant and so on

 

[alwayson22]

Lebron and Kobe both by the end of their carrer (if Lebron wins a ring) will go down in the top ten of all time. Both have global appeal go to China you will see their jerseys people in Mexico know them to and so do people all over Europe. Plus ask non sports fans everywhere and they reconise those names. Plus the way these two are marketed their brand and names will be distributed way more than bird and magic ever were, and they will stay relavent like many former stars find a way to do. so i think those two are safe bets.

This ... LeBron and Kobe are "one name" icons, like Jordan, Bird, and Magic.

 

[AmishDave]

When I went to the Philippines in '06, I couldn't believe how many Kevin Garnett Tpups jersey's there were. Not saying Garnett is a global icon, but I was stunned anyone over there knew KG (but I knew they were big basketball fans). I'll say, in time, Durant will be up there too, if he continues his rise into the upper echelon of the NBA's Elite.

 

[DaveH]

today's stars have a big advantage over the stars of yesteryear... youtube, global communications, internet, etc... shrinking the globe and many international fans are getting to watch these young players as they blossom. all they get with Jordan is old highlights.

I'd say LeBron and Kobe are easily gigantic global icons right now.

might as well add Howard, Rose, Durant, CP3 and Wade. as well. they aren't going to get any less popular.


and prepare for the Blake Griffin era.

 

[bballcardkid]

No. No single player can popularize a sport the way Michael did. He made fans out of non fans. Lebron and Kobe, despite being recognizable one named characters, don't have the allure of someone like MJ.

Plus, Jordan benefited from the greatest collecting decade in sports card history. Kobe and Lebron have crap being produced of them.

 

[DaveH]

Kobe and LeBron don't have to popularize it. the audience is already here.

the op asked whether they could have true long-term global appeal. the answer is yes.

how many international fans could even vote for the all-star game back in the early 90s?? did they have an "absentee" ballot back then? lol.

 

[brouthercard]

No.

 

[Ty Hope]

I would argue that Shaq is up there. Can't go wrong with picking up a few of his cards IMO.

 

[bballcardkid]

Kobe and LeBron don't have to popularize it. the audience is already here.

the op asked whether they could have true long-term global appeal. the answer is yes.

how many international fans could even vote for the all-star game back in the early 90s?? did they have an "absentee" ballot back then? lol.

And what's the reason for the OP asking such questions? Because he want's to determine if it's worth picking up a few of their cards to sit on for his Godson much like Jordan.

The answer is still no. Kobe and Lebron are no where near the draw that Jordan was, not only to international fans, but international collectors. If you really want to answer the OP's question, why not mention Yao Ming? He has the entire country of China on his side. But something tells me Eric isn't going to be buying any Yao Ming cards for his godson, unless I'm reading his intentions entirely wrong and he wants to build a collection of iconic athletes for his godson to cherish. Then, by all means...

 

[Tomlinson21RB]

Kobe and LeBron don't have to popularize it. the audience is already here.

the op asked whether they could have true long-term global appeal. the answer is yes.

how many international fans could even vote for the all-star game back in the early 90s?? did they have an "absentee" ballot back then? lol.

And what's the reason for the OP asking such questions? Because he want's to determine if it's worth picking up a few of their cards to sit on for his Godson much like Jordan.

The answer is still no. Kobe and Lebron are no where near the draw that Jordan was, not only to international fans, but international collectors. If you really want to answer the OP's question, why not mention Yao Ming? He has the entire country of China on his side. But something tells me Eric isn't going to be buying any Yao Ming cards for his godson, unless I'm reading his intentions entirely wrong and he wants to build a collection of iconic athletes for his godson to cherish. Then, by all means...

Yao doesn't have global appeal. His popularity is mostly found in Houston or Chinese populations. Guys like Kobe, Lebron, KG and Shaq are popular in America, Europe, Asia and South America.

As far as the comparison to Jordan, you're right that no one will reach that status but in answering the original question they do have global appeal and will continue to have it for many years.

 

[Marlo]

Tiger Tiger Tiger Woods yall

 

[DaveH]

I would argue that Shaq is up there. Can't go wrong with picking up a few of his cards IMO.

true. forgot Shaq.