At the time of the biggest trade in the NBA this summer (Isaiah Thomas to the Cavs; Kyrie Irving to the Celtics), the two players are at the height of their popularity. How do you measure that? Well besides being frequently mentioned as an MVP candidate after his standout 2016-17 season, Isaiah Thomas was #7 in NBA jersey sales — a surefire marker of popularity. Kyrie Irving, the new Celtics point guard, saw his Cavaliers jersey ranked #5 in sales. One thing to watch when considering how fans are reacting to the big trade is how the players’ new team jerseys sell. The Irving Celtics jersey and the Thomas Cavaliers jersey should be the hottest new items at the NBA store.
Steph Curry secures the top spot on the NBA’s Most Popular Jersey list, based on overall sales on @NBAStore from April through June. pic.twitter.com/jrXFlbHaEP
— NBA (@NBA) June 29, 2017
Irving’s new Celtics jersey will have competition even in Boston, as newcomer Gordon Hayward is already prominently featured in the NBA store, and is sure to find a place in the hearts of Celtics fans. Meanwhile the Golden State Warriors figure to continue to dominate the popularity contest represented by NBA jersey sales. Four of the top 15 best sellers play for the champs — Steph Curry, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant are all on the list. The only other team with two players on the list was Cleveland, who still has two players on the list — just different players. LeBron James and Thomas. The Bulls also had two on the list before the Jimmy Butler trade saw him leave Chicago.
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