Unauthorized LeBron James merch up for grabs outside Philly’s stadiums and down the Shore
Within days of LeBron James' landmark deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, T-shirt hawkers outside stadiums and along the Jersey Shore were stocked up on unauthorized Sixers gear.
T-shirt hawkers have captured LeBron James’ name, image, and likeness.
The face of the newly minted Philadelphia 76er and all-time NBA legend has already wound up on unauthorized merch outside stadiums and down the Jersey Shore, as seen in social media posts.
“I just know there’s a sixers LeBron tshirt somewhere on the wildwood boardwalk right now,” one X user posted, just hours after the two-year, $8 million contract was confirmed.
The poster followed up a day later.
“coming to you live from the wildwood boardwalk,” they wrote, alongside a photo of two T-shirts with LeBron’s face (likely) photoshopped onto No. 23 Sixers jerseys. The tweet has more than 3,500 likes.
A video from TickPick, a ticketing marketplace, also showed LeBron gear being peddled outside the Phillies’ game Saturday.
For decades, hawkers have been a fixture outside stadiums before and after games and concerts. And at the Jersey Shore, the staple mildly offensive and oft-vulgar garb has taken on its own culture.
These merchandisers are not beholden to trademark restrictions, capitalize on fan — not corporate — interests, and press catchy slogans onto cotton at lightning speeds.
That’s probably how King James landed at the Shore before the ink dried on the deal.
Some legitimate retailers, like Mitchell & Ness, were also quick to monetize the moment: A collection of James-Sixers swag went on sale Sunday.
As of the same day, variations of James’ Sixers jersey on the NBA’s official merch site — with a $149.99 price tag — were sold out or nearly gone.
So, at least for now, the bootleggers may have a leg up on the market.
