Popular NBA Jerseys

NBA jerseys are both signs of a unique turn in our century's fashion sense as well as a favorite for the avid sports memorabilia collector. The NBA changes team logos and color schemes more often than any sport and, in my opinion, always hold up in the most pleasing of sports attire. Their fashionable-while-still-professional style has everyone wearing them.

Over the past 10 years, the NBA Store at Fifth Avenue in New York has sold more NBA jerseys than any other single venue. During those 10 years, the most popular NBA jerseys are as follows:

1. Michael Jordan

2. Kobe Bryant

3. Allen Iverson

4. LeBron James

5. Shaquille O'Neal

6. Tracy McGrady

7. Dwyane Wade

8. Jason Kidd

9. Vince Carter

10. Tim Duncan

No surprises here, right? Top-selling jerseys for any sport are very often the players who have won the most championships (in cases like Jordan, Kobe, Shaq, and Duncan) or the most exciting players to watch (of those such as Iverson, McGrady, and Vince Carter). But are the most popular jerseys of the last 10 years up there as the most popular of all-time?

The popularity of throwbacks is as strong in the NBA as the NFL. The bright and different colors in jerseys such as John Stockton's Utah Jazz and Pete Maravich's St. Louis Hawks seem to attract enthusiasts more than any other. Some jerseys captured lively graphics (such as the Toronto Raptors and Phoenix Suns) while others remained rather plain. To capture the popular look and appearance of throwback jerseys and combine the appearance with the players of today, Nike made special "Rewind" jerseys at one point that sold very well. The NBA also often celebrates a "Hardwood Classic Night" where players wear these renewed throwback jerseys in special games.