In large part, LeBron, Steph, and Harden (and numerous others to be listed below) have David Stern, Yao Ming, and Kobe Bryant to thank for this. During these years, several things happened which helped facilitate Kobe’s global reach. But Kobe Bryant had the good sense to leverage and activate his brand in China on a magnitude that far exceeded any American-born player before him. Other current NBA stars who have enriched themselves with lucrative endorsements with Chinese companies (especially in the footwear market), include:=========================As Mike Lupica wrote on Sunday, Kobe Bryant leaves behind a complicated legacy. But what is not complicated to understand is the legacy Kobe Bryant leaves as a pioneer among American-born NBA players in skillfully building his brand in China.

Source: Forbes January 27, 2020 06:26 UTC