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Owning an NBA jersey of a favorite player is always a show of love and admiration. Current NBA stars have revealed the first jerseys they ever owned and why.
The NBA recently released a video where several stars were asked about the first jerseys they ever owned. Some of the choices came as no surprise, as they included the names of several league legends.
That said, here are ten first-ever NBA jerseys owned by NBA stars.
#1 Jayson Tatum - Kobe Bryant #24 NBA Jersey
Boston Celtics' Jayson Tatum has always spoken about how he was inspired by Kobe Bryant. During the 2022 Eastern Conference semifinals, he wore a Bryant hand band to draw inspiration and lead his team to the NBA Finals.
Tatum revealed that his first jersey was the iconic Bryant purple and gold. Although the five-time NBA champ used two numbers during his career, the Celtics forward first owned the #24 jersey. He stated that owning the Bryant jersey was the start of his interest in becoming an NBA player.
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#2 Paul George - Shaquille O'Neal #32
Paul George has evolved into an elite-level talent during his time in the NBA. Surprisingly, his style of play is nothing close to that of the player he grew up rocking his jersey.
George stated that his first NBA jersey was Shaquille O'Neal Orlando Magic #32. Based on how big it was, PG said it somewhat turned into an outfit to measure how much he grew.
#3 Jamal Murray and Kevin Durant - Vince Carter #15
Vince Carter was an intriguing athlete, and he inspired several NBA stars growing up. Jamal Murray and Kevin Durant revealed that their first NBA jerseys were that of Vince Carter during his time with the Toronto Raptors.
Carter played for 22 years, allowing both players the opportunity to share a court with him. It was a surreal moment for Murray, who eventually got a signed jersey from the eight-time All-Star.
#4 Jordan Poole and Tyler Herro - Allen Iverson #3
Allen Iverson was one of the flashiest players during his era, and that left an impact on young players at the time. His ball-handling skills and ability to attack the rim were unparalleled.
Given how impactful he was, both young Jordan Poole and Tyler Herro were stoked to have his Philadelphia 76ers #3 as their first NBA jersey. Both players talked about how it was hard to spot them without the jersey at the time.
#5 Karl-Anthony Towns - Penny Hardaway #1
Karl-Anthony Towns revealed that his first NBA jersey was that of Orlando Magic's Penny Hardaway. He gave a shout-out to his mother for getting him what was the hottest jersey at the time.
#6 Jimmy Butler - Sam Cassell #10
Although not one of the most popular NBA players, Jimmy Butler said Sam Cassell's Houston Rockets jersey was the first NBA jersey he owned. He spoke about how Cassell was his idol and highlighted how great it is that they are now friends.
You may also like: Erik Spoelstra commends Jimmy Butler for his on-court attitude - “He’s not barking at his coach saying he needs the ball”
#7 PJ Tucker - Larry Johnson #2
Philadelphia 76ers PJ Tucker said the first NBA jersey he ever owned was that of Larry "Grandmama" Johnson. LJ came into the NBA hot, winning the Rookie of the Year award with the Charlotte Hornets.
Tucker highlighted that he wanted to be like Johnson when growing up. Sadly, the All-Star forward was forced to retire early due to a recurring back injury.
#8 Tyrese Haliburton - Carmelo Anthony #15 (All-Star)
Carmelo Anthony was an elite talent in the NBA. Many argued that Anthony should for have won Rookie of the Year over LeBron James during his time with the Denver Nuggets.
Tyrese Haliburton stated that his first NBA jersey was that of Anthony's All-Star fit. The assists leader also got his chance to play against Melo, who is currently out of the league.
#9 DeMar DeRozan - George Mikan #99
George Mikan is responsible for several changes in the modern NBA. Although he did not play in an era where there was plenty of coverage, his exploits are still well known.
Mikan's Minneapolis Lakers jersey was the first NBA jersey DeMar DeRozan owned. Debo revealed it was during a time when throwback jerseys were trending.
#10 Tyrese Maxey - Dwyane Wade #9 (USA)
Tyrese Maxey's first jersey was Dwyane Wade's USA jersey. He mentioned that "The Flash" was his favorite player growing up, and it was incredible to have his name across a Team USA jersey.
