By Barry Janoff
April 14: 2025: Not only did the trade that sent Luka Dončić from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis the weekend of Feb. 1-2 send a tsunami though the NBA, it shook up the league’s merchandising.
The NBA and National Basketball Players Assn. today jointly said Lakers’ Dončić No.77 and the Lakers franchise secured the top spots on the NBA’s Most Popular Jersey and Team Merchandise lists.
Results are based on NBAStore.com sales for the 2024-25 regular season.
The NBA said Dončić, from Slovenia, is the first international player to top the most popular jerseys list.
His Mavericks jersey was No. 8 in sales in a list unveiled in January, prior to the trade.
He is also the first player other than Stephen Curry or LeBron James to top the list since the 2012-13 regular season (when it was led by New York Knicks’ Carmelo Anthony).
Curry was No. 2, James No. 3 in the season-ending list.
Since the NBA trade deadline on Feb. 6, jersey sales on NBAStore.com are up 21% compared to the same period last year, “primarily driven by Dončić’s trade to the Lakers.”
ESPN said Dončić’s return to Dallas with the Lakers to face the Mavericks for the first time in Dallas since his trade on April 9 drew the largest NBA audience on ESPN this season excluding Christmas — averaging 2.26 million viewers and peaking at 2.79 million. Dončić scored 45 points in the Lakers 112-97 win.
In terms of team merchandise sales, the Lakers were followed by the Boston Celtics, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks and Chicago Bulls.
Top-Selling NBA Jerseys
1. Luka Dončić, Los Angeles Lakers
2. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
3. LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
4. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
5. Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
6. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
7. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
8. Ja Morant Memphis Grizzlies
9. Shia Glgeous-Alexander Oklahoma City Thunder
10. Nikola Jokic Denver Nuggets
11. Giannis Antetokounmpo Milwaukee Bucks
12. Lamelo Ball Charlotte Hornets
13. Kevin Durant Phoenix Suns
14. Devin Booker Phoenix Suns
15. Jaylen Brown Boston Celtics
Top-Selling NBA Merchandise
1. Los Angeles Lakers
2. Boston Celtics
3. Golden State Warriors
4. New York Knicks
5. Chicago Bulls
6. Dallas Mavericks
7. Cleveland Cavaliers
8. Denver Nuggets
9. San Antonio Spurs
10. Minnesota Timberwolves
Source: NBA
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