The Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant has the most popular jersey in the NBA, moving up three spots from the end of last season, according to the NBA's Most Popular Jersey List. Bryant, who had the most popular jersey during the 2002-03 season, regained the lead from the Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade who held the top spot since May 2005. Wade drops to No. 2 on the list and the Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James comes in at No.3. The rankings are based on jersey sales at the NBA Store on Fifth Avenue in New York City and NBAStore.com since the start of the 2006-07 NBA season through Dec. 31, 2006.

New teammates Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony of the Denver Nuggets round out the top five with the fourth and fifth most popular jerseys, respectively. Following the Dec. 19 trade to the Nuggets from the Philadelphia 76ers, Iverson moved up three spots on the list from his No. 7 rank before the trade.

The Los Angeles Lakers remained No. 1 on the league’s Most Popular Team Merchandise List for the fifth consecutive season, while the NBA Champion Miami Heat moved up one spot to second. The New York Knicks rank third and the Chicago Bulls are fourth. The Cleveland Cavaliers made the largest jump on the list this year, moving up to No. 5 from No. 8 last year.

The Washington Wizards’ Gilbert Arenas and 2006 T-Mobile Rookie of the Year Chris Paul from the New Orleans/OK City Hornets make their debut in the Top 15, coming in at No. 8 and No. 14, respectively.

The NBA Store had its strongest sales quarter in history in the fourth quarter of 2006 including the best November sales ever and the largest single sales month ever during December 2006. This season marks the first with adidas as the official on-court uniform and apparel provider for the NBA.

The NBA’s Most Popular Jersey List and the Most Popular Team Merchandise List are listed below. 

              
TOP 15 PLAYERS                                 TOP 10 TEAMS 
1. Kobe Bryant – Los Angeles Lakers         1.  Los Angeles Lakers 
2. Dwyane Wade – Miami Heat                 2.  Miami Heat 
3. LeBron James – Cleveland Cavaliers       3.  New York Knicks 
4. Allen Iverson – Denver Nuggets           4.  Chicago Bulls 
5. Carmelo Anthony – Denver Nuggets         5.  Cleveland Cavaliers 
6. Steve Nash – Phoenix Suns                6.  Boston Celtics 
7. Vince Carter – New Jersey Nets           7.  Denver Nuggets 
8. Gilbert Arenas – Washington Wizards      8.  Philadelphia 76ers 
9. Shaquille O’Neal – Miami Heat            9.  New Jersey Nets 
10. Stephon Marbury – New York Knicks       10.  San Antonio Spurs 
11. Dirk Nowitzki – Dallas Mavericks 
12. Tracy McGrady – Houston Rockets 
13. Paul Pierce – Boston Celtics 
14. Chris Paul – New Orleans/OK City Hornets 
15. Tim Duncan – San Antonio Spurs