With the season creeping ever closer to it’s exciting completion, us at NBA Nation Australia were interested in who would be the best selling jersey of 2012. We had our suspicions, and have listed below the top 10 selling jerseys as announced by the NBA.

Did you have a guess at the top 10 jerseys? Were you right? How many jerseys did you buy this year?

 

* 2010-11 top selling jersey placements listed in ( )

10. Rajon Rondo #9 – Boston Celtics (3)

The Boston Celtics superstar point guard has had yet again another huge year. In the regular season he averaged 11.9 ppg, 11.7 apg, & 4.8 rpg. Rondo so far in this years playoffs is averaging 17.6, 11.7 & 6.9. With Rondo improving season by season don’t be surprised to see him higher on this list this time next year.

9. Blake Griffin #32 – Los Angeles Clippers

Clippers forward Griffin really cemented his place in the league this year, and with the help of All-Star Chris Paul finally made the Clips a team not to be sneered at. Blake averaged 20.7 ppg, 3.2 apg, & 10.9 rpg in the regular season and had a slightly quieter playoffs with 19.1, 2.5 & 6.9. 

8. Kevin Durant #35 – Oklahoma City Thunder (7)

Durant, once again top scored in the league this year and was just shy of being MVP. Averaging 28.0 ppg, 3.5 apg & 8.0 rpg. Currently in the Thunders playoff run, Durant is averaging 26.7, 3.8, & 7.8. Us at NBA Nation Australia were surprised to see Durant as low as 8 and believe it won’t be too long before you see him at the No.1 spot.

7. Dirk Nowitzki #41 – Dallas Mavericks

Despite Dallas’ disappointing Championship defending year, Nowitzki still is obviously popular enough around the world with NBA fans. This year Dirk averaged 21.6 ppg, 2.2 apg & 6.7 rpg this year in the regular season and in the playoffs averaged 26.8, 1.8, & 6.30. 

6. Dwayne Wade  #3 – Miami Heat (6)

After the Heat’s disappointing end to the 2010-11 playoffs, the Heat and the Big 3 have vowed to not allow the same last hurdle collapse. Dwayne Wade still one of the leagues elite players, finishes at no.6 the same as the previous years placement in the NBA’s top selling jerseys. This year Wade averaged 22.1 ppg, 4.6 apg, & 4.8 rpg, currently in the Playoffs Dwayne is averaging 23.2, 3.9 & 4.50. If the Heat pull off a Championship this year expect to see Wade finish maybe within the top 3 next year.

5. Carmelo Anthony #7 – New York Knicks (8)

After making the move from Denver to the Big Apple, ‘Melo has made it his mission to win a ring as well as cement his place among the elite players in the league. While he hasn’t yet won that ring, he is still as ever popular amongst NBA fans as jersey sales prove. This year Melo averaged 22.6 ppg, 2.2 apg & 6.3 rpg, and in the playoffs blew up in the averages stakes with a 27.8, 2.2 & 8.2. Is ‘Melo the only New York jersey we’ll see in this top 10?

4. LeBron James #6 – Miami Heat (1)

Self-named ‘King James’ last year topped jersey sales, but failed to bring a ring back to South Beach. This year James and the Heat are on a mission not to let that happen again. Winning his third MVP award this year will definitely help his stakes at upping the jersey sale tables for next year. James averaged 27.1 ppg, 6.2 apg & 7.9 rpg, and currently in the Playoffs is averaging 29.9, 5.7, & 9.10. 

3. Kobe Bryant -#24 – Los Angeles Lakers (2)

After Kobe’s failure to take the Lakers to their 3rd Championship win on the spin, the five time NBA Champion has dropped a place in jersey sales since last year. After an early exit in this years Playoffs, expect Kobe to come back full of fire next season as his time nears it’s end in this league. This year Kobe averaged 27.9 ppg, 4.6 apg & 5.4 rpg in the regular season and in the playoffs averaged 30.0, 4.3 &  4.8.

2. Jeremy Lin #17 – New York Knicks 

This years dream success story was the explosion of Lin-sanity. Lin was thrown into the New York Knicks starting lineup due to injury and genuinely showed New York and the NBA he belonged. This year Lin averaged 14.6 ppg, 6.2 apg & 3.10. The Knicks will be ultra happy with the unexpected revenue being brought in down to this surprise phenomenon, and will most likely milk and ride this out as much as they can do. Expect to see Lin within the next 10 next year.

……and onto the top selling jersey in the NBA in the 2011-12 season…..

1. Derrick Rose #1 – Chicago Bulls (5)

After last year’s mammoth MVP winning year, it’s no surprise that Derrick Rose finished up as the top selling jersey. This year despite that has been slightly painful for Rose after picking up an injury that put him for most of the year and then coming back to big expectations only to tear his ACL in the opening game of round 1 of the Playoffs. Rose is currently working his way back to fitness but is still expected to miss a chunk of early next season. Despite the disappointing season for Rose, his star power has no signs of waning, fully expect to still see him within the top 3 jerseys next year.

 

Nick H