Last week, NBAStore released the results of its tracking of the top-selling NBA jerseys since the start of the 2009-10 season.
Somewhat surprisingly, Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant held down the top spot, a position that he’s owned since the start of the 2008-09 season.
I guess that just goes to show that the allure of the glam and glitter associated with Hollywood’s Lakers is greater than the negative publicity generated from one of the team’s stars being the focal point of a messy scandal.
Moving on, the man that soon will overtake Kobe, King James himself, was second, with LeBron’s Cavs’ jersey being one of the biggest sellers this season.
Orlando’s Dwight Howard, Chicago’s Derrick Rose (remember him?) and Mario Chalmers’ Miami teammate, Dwyane Wade, rounded out the top five.
As I continued to scroll down the list, wondering, somewhat reluctantly, if any former Jayhawks even had a shot at cracking the Top 10, I found former KU standout Paul Pierce firmly planted in at No. 8, one spot ahead of Shaquille O’Neal and three spots in front of Carmelo Anthony.
I have to admit it; I was surprised. Not so much that Pierce was on the list. That makes sense. He’s the best player on one of the league’s most storied franchises and the memories of his NBA Finals MVP performance from 2008 remain fresh in the minds of many NBA fans. Plus, with Pierce originally hailing from the L.A. area and having attended college in the Midwest, he’s got the market covered from coast to coast.
What surprised me, though, was that he was ahead of Shaq and, to my astonishment, Carmelo.
I guess I can see the Shaq deal. It’s not like this is a “What’s the most popular jersey of all-time” contest. Shaq’s Lakers jersey would certainly be in the running there and was probably ahead of Pierce’s Celtics green for years. But the big man has only been with Cleveland for a few months and, let’s face it, if you’re a Cavs fan you’re not buying a jersey with the name “O’Neal” stripped across the back. It’s LeBron or bust for Cavs fans, whether their favorite son will be around next season or not.
Pierce being ahead of Carmelo was more surprising to me. For one, Anthony is one of the biggest young stars the league has today. He made millions of fans during the 2008 Olympics and his maturation and progressing skills have elevated the Denver Nuggets to elite-level status in the NBA, as he led the Nuggets to the Western Conference Finals in 2009 and gave Kobe and the Lakers all they wanted in the series that went six games.
In addition, the sale of Denver Nuggets merchandise — thanks largely to Carmelo (along with Allen Iverson’s brief stay in the Mile High City) — has climbed steadily in recent years and has grown at one of the fastest rates in the entire league.
Perhaps the biggest surprise on the list is the presence of New York Knicks forward David Lee, who ranked 13th. I guess that — along with Pau Gasol of the Lakers being 10th — speaks further to the influence of the country’s two most powerful cities, Los Angeles and New York.
Before scrolling down to see the 15 top-selling individual jerseys along with a list of the NBA’s top teams in total merchandising, I’ll pose this question: If you were going to purchase the NBA jersey of a former Jayhawk, which one would you choose?
Let’s exclude Pierce from this experiment, since it’s obvious that his jersey is the one to pick.
To make your voice heard be sure to vote in our on-line poll and also defend your answer in the comments section below.
Since these things can cost between $80 and $200, here are a few things to keep in mind when making your decision.
1. Name recognition: When you wear the jersey of your choice, will people constantly be asking you, “Who?”
2. What does the jersey look like: Some of you might have liked those disgusting teal, red and gold unis that the Detroit Pistons wore for a few years. I didn’t. And even if my favorite former Jayhawk had played for the Pistons, there’s no way I would’ve purchased that jersey.
3. Longevity with the team: Will this guy be on the roster of his current team for at least the next few seasons, therein making your purchase worth it?
Top 15 Individual Jersey Sales
1. Kobe Bryant, Lakers
2. LeBron James, Cavaliers
3. Dwight Howard, Magic
4. Derrick Rose, Bulls
5. Dwyane Wade, Heat
6. Kevin Garnett, Celtics
7. Chris Paul, Hornets
8. Paul Pierce, Celtics
9. Shaquille O’Neal, Cavaliers
10. Pau Gasol, Lakers
11. Carmelo Anthony, Nuggets
12. Steve Nash, Suns
13. David Lee, Knicks
14. Allen Iverson, 76ers
15. Kevin Durant, Thunder
Top 10 NBA Teams in Merchandising Sales
1. Los Angeles Lakers
2. Boston Celtics
3. Cleveland Cavaliers
4. New York Knicks
5. Chicago Bulls
6. Orlando Magic
7. Denver Nuggets
8. Miami Heat
9. San Antonio Spurs
10. Phoenix Suns
