NBA: Top selling jerseys in 2014

San Antonio Spurs won the NBA Championship this past season, but not a single player from their roster has made it to the list of the top 10 best selling jerseys in the league. It’s a reminder that those slots are reserved for the most popular players, but not necessarily the best team players.The top 10 list for the past regular season is a mixed bag with some old faces, some new ones, some expected and some not expected. Here are the 10 best selling NBA jerseys in 2014.

#10 James Harden

Harden brought huge crowds to the Toyota Center a rarity since the Yao Ming days, after he signed with the team two summers ago. He gave the citizens, staff and team members hope of a championship in the near future.

Given those hopes and the kind of team that the Rockets had assembled, they should have made a long run in the Playoffs instead got knocked out in the first round, just like last year. While he might not be the best in the league, Harden’s growth as a player from being in the shadows of Kevin Durant in Oklahoma City to a superstar in Houston has made him immensely popular with the crowds.

#9 Kyrie Irving

Kyrie Irving jersey sales is ranked 9th and he is not even 25 years old which makes him the youngest player on the list.

Irving has shown outstanding talent in his three years in the league and has been the sole player holding the torch in Cleveland after James left for greener pastures. In three seasons, he has won the Rookie of the Year award, NBA All-Star Three point shooting contest and the NBA All-Star Game MVP award which says volumes about his individual talent.

#8 Chris Paul

Arguably the best point guard in the league right now, Chris Paul has failed to even contend for a championship despite a bigger market and better team at his disposal, let alone a win a title.

He has continued to break personal milestones in his time as a Clippers, but has failed to lead his team to the Conference Finals. The 2013 NBA All-Star Game MVP, Paul also broke the record for most consecutive double doubles to start the seasons with 13.

#7 Dwyane Wade

Dwyane Wade’s four year stint with buddy James in South Beach might not have gone completely as planned, but this past season was one of the most effective in his career. Miami did avoid making him play back to back games to preserve those creaky knees for the post-season.

There will be more reliance on Wade and his knees this season with the Big Three becoming the Big two in South Beach along with Chris Bosh. Still ranked among the best shooting guards in the league, Wade will have a lot to prove this season.

#6 Carmelo Anthony

The second most scrutinised player in the league after James, Anthony took the bold decision of staying with the Knicks for the next 4-5 years. Playing in the Big Apple has certainly helped his game and his popularity, although you would think 6th is slightly lower than expected given his talent.

A former scoring champion, Anthony is one of those players,who has talent, but lacks the achievements on a personal level as well as with the team. In the ushering of a new era in New York with Phil Jackson, Anthony would look to change that.

#5 Stephen Curry

A first time All-Star starter this year, Stephen Curry’s game improved by leaps and bounds this season. Although his team did not garner the success that he might have wanted in this year’s playoffs, Curry’s growth brings more hope than ever was in Golden State.

Knocking down clutch jumpers and registering team leading performances all through the season, Curry has been a fan favorite not only in Golden State, but all across the league. His remarkable three point shooting is one of the best and sweetest strokes in the league since Ray Allen’s prime.

#4 Derrick Rose

The fact that he only played a dozen games in the season and is ranked 4^th on the list is a tribute to his popularity and the excitement that he creates with his game. Derrick Rose is currently training for the USA National Basketball team preparing for the FIBA World Cup in Spain.

One of the best entertainers in the league, Rose is also seen as the next beacon of hope to bring a championship to the Windy City. Expect a lot more jerseys to be sold the coming season as Rose takes the floor after almost 8 months.

#3 Kobe Bryant

A legend in his 18th season plays just half a dozen games and yet his jerseys are the third most sold in the league. More popular in China than Yao Ming himself, Bryant is also among the highest payed players in the league even at the age of 35.

A future Hall of Famer, Bryant is a five time champion and considered among the 5 greatest players in the history of the league. The face of the Los Angeles Lakers franchsie for over a decade now, Bryant has already shown that he fully recovered from his knee injury after dazzling fans during his annual visit to China.

#2 Kevin Durant

The league’s reigning MVP Kevin Durant is the second best on the list. Still only 26, Durant has more than a bright future ahead, given the team he has alongside him in Oklahoma City.

Durant has put up monstrous numbers this season and the MVP award was just an icing on the cake!

Pretty sure you would have guessed number one by now!

#1 LeBron James

Many might have guessed this one right from the start of the top 10.

This off-season’s free agency was a perfect example that LeBron James dominates the league not only on the court, but off the court as well. A series of moves followed and fell like dominoes after he made his decision public to return to Cleveland and sign with the Cavaliers.

James has had the most selling jerseys in a single season six times during his 11 year career in the league and taken into account his dominance on the game, he is most likely to top the sales next year as well.