The Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant has retained the top spot on the NBA’s Most Popular Jerseys list, the ranking he has held since the start of the 2008-09 season. The rankings are based on sales at the NBA Store in New York City and NBAStore.com since the start of the 2009-10 NBA season.

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James maintains the No. 2 spot, while the Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard and the Chicago Bulls’ Derrick Rose appear in the Top 5 for the first time. Howard makes a dramatic jump, moving from No. 10 to No. 3 on this year’s list. Rose’s popularity continues to grow and moves into the No.4 spot from No.11 last season. The Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade rounds out the Top 5.

Shaquille O’Neal makes his way back into the Top 10 for the first time since June 2008 at the No. 9 spot, while Kevin Durant re-emerges on the list for the first time since January 2008. Denver Nuggets’ Carmelo Anthony also moved up the list from No. 15 to No. 11.

The Los Angeles Lakers once again top the list of Most Popular NBA Team Merchandise. The Boston Celtics hold on to the No.2 spot for the second year in a row while, the Cleveland Cavaliers move up from No. 4 last season to No. 3.

MOST POPULAR NBA PLAYER JERSEYS

1) Kobe Bryant
2) LeBron James
3) Dwight Howard
4) Derrick Rose
5) Dwyane Wade
6) Kevin Garnett
7) Chris Paul
8) Paul Pierce
9) Shaquille O'Neal
10) Pau Gasol
11) Carmelo Anthony
12) Steve Nash
13) David Lee
14) Allen Iverson
15) Kevin Durant

MOST POPULAR NBA TEAM JERSEYS

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

------------------------------------


JANUARY 10, 2007

The Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant has the most popular jersey in the NBA, moving up three spots from the end of last season on the NBA's Most Popular Jersey List. Bryant, who had the most popular jersey during the 2002-03 season, regained the lead from the Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade who held the top spot since May 2005. Wade drops to No. 2 on the list and the Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James comes in at No.3.

The rankings are based on jersey sales at the NBA Store on Fifth Avenue in New York City and NBAStore.com since the start of the 2006-07 NBA season through Dec. 31, 2006.

New teammates Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony of the Denver Nuggets round out the top five with the fourth and fifth most popular jerseys, respectively. Following the Dec. 19 trade to the Nuggets from the Philadelphia 76ers, Iverson moved up three spots on the list from his No. 7 rank before the trade.

The Los Angeles Lakers remained No. 1 on the league’s Most Popular Team Merchandise List for the fifth consecutive season, while the NBA Champion Miami Heat moved up one spot to second. The New York Knicks rank third and the Chicago Bulls are fourth. The Cleveland Cavaliers made the largest jump on the list this year, moving up to No. 5 from No. 8 last year.

The Washington Wizards’ Gilbert Arenas and 2006 T-Mobile Rookie of the Year Chris Paul from the New Orleans/OK City Hornets make their debut in the Top 15, coming in at No. 8 and No. 14, respectively.

The NBA’s Most Popular Jersey List and the Most Popular Team Merchandise List are listed below.

TOP 15 PLAYER JERSEY SALES LIST:
1. Kobe Bryant – Los Angeles Lakers
2. Dwyane Wade – Miami Heat
3. LeBron James – Cleveland Cavaliers
4. Allen Iverson – Denver Nuggets
5. Carmelo Anthony – Denver Nuggets
6. Steve Nash – Phoenix Suns
7. Vince Carter – New Jersey Nets
8. Gilbert Arenas – Washington Wizards
9. Shaquille O’Neal – Miami Heat
10. Stephon Marbury – New York Knicks
11. Dirk Nowitzki – Dallas Mavericks
12. Tracy McGrady – Houston Rockets
13. Paul Pierce – Boston Celtics
14. Chris Paul – New Orleans/OK City Hornets
15. Tim Duncan – San Antonio Spurs

TOP 10 TEAM MERCHANDISE SALES LIST:
1. Los Angeles Lakers
2. Miami Heat
3. New York Knicks
4. Chicago Bulls
5. Cleveland Cavaliers
6. Boston Celtics
7. Denver Nuggets
8. Philadelphia 76ers
9. New Jersey Nets
10. San Antonio Spurs