Jock Jerseys’ Flash

If you polled anyone under 25 yrs old, they probably wouldn’t be able to guess who the NBA Store’s top selling jersey is (1998-2008), but most people over 25 would know it’s the greatest basketball player of all time - none other than Michael Jordan.

Despite not even playing in the NBA for a good portion of the 10 yr period, Jordan still has the top selling NBA jersey, outranking Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson, Shaquille O’Neal and Lebron James. It’s no surprise to see Bryant, Iverson and Shaq in the Top 5, but Lebron has already jumped into the 5th spot in only his 5th season.

Here are the top selling NBA jerseys at the NBA Store from 1998-2008:

1. Michael Jordan
2. Kobe Bryant
3. Allen Iverson
4. LeBron James
5. Shaquille O’Neal
6. Tracy McGrady
7. Dwyane Wade
8. Jason Kidd
9. Vince Carter
10. Tim Duncan

I’m really surprised that Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Yao Ming and even Stephon Marbury aren’t on the list, especially considering the markets they play in (Boston and New York, respectively).

The next group of stars to crack this list over the next 5 yrs will likely include: Dwight Howard, Chris Paul, Amare Stoudemire and Greg Oden. No one else really stands out as a big-time jersey seller and even these guys would have a tough time getting higher on the list.

If you have a favorite player who didn’t make the list, let us know about it.

It’s a pretty safe bet that no one on Earth could’ve written this script….

Rockets win 12 straight, then lose All-Star center Yao Ming for the remainder of the season due to a stress fracture in his foot.  That didn’t stop them, as they proceeded to win their 13th straight game - this one without Yao.

And even then, when most people had written them off, the Houston Rockets reel off another 10 straight wins and takeover sole possesion of 1st place in the Western Conference…. “1st place”.  They are better than the defending Spurs, the Kobe-led Lakers, the Nash-Stoudemire-Shaq Suns, Chris Paul & Co. in New Orleans and even the Dallas Mavericks.  Yes, almost 1/2 of it without the services of Yao Ming.

Tracy McGrady has been solid during the streak and has attained the title of a possible MVP candidate.  Certainly, if the Rockets finish with a better record than the Lakers & Cavs, McGrady would deserve it more than Kobe or Lebron.

The streak is now the 2nd longest in NBA history, trailing only the 33 wins in a row L.A. Lakers.  Houston has moved from the 7th playoff spot, all the way up to the 1st seed (if the playoffs started today)… an amazing run for any team.

I think Shane Battier said it best when he said the Rockets were probably the worst 22-win team in the history of the league.  That might be true, but as leaders of the packed Western Conference, he might get a few arguments, especially from his own teammates.