Top Five Best NBA Jerseys of All Time

No Matter Their Age, These NBA Jerseys Will Forever Be Iconic

A Thing of Beauty   

You can’t think of the elite players in the long history of the National Basketball Association without associating them with the NBA jerseys they wear/wore. 

Start with Bill Russell’s No. 6 with the Boston Celtics, leading as dominant a dynasty as the league has seen. If the subject is dynasties, try Michael Jordan’s No. 23 with the Chicago Bulls, perhaps the greatest player in the history of the league. Jordan’s jersey remains the all-time best seller in the history of such things. 

Then certain numbers are automatically associated with greatness, as in the ‘33’ of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Larry Bird, and the ‘32” of Magic Johnson and Karl Malone.

In the category of intimidation, there aren’t many comparable to the No. 13 of Wilt Chamberlain. 

Among the current crop of stars, LeBron James actually switched numbers, then changed back. It was No. 23 to begin in Cleveland, subsequently No. 6 (homage to Bill Russell), and now it’s 23 once again. Steph Curry and his No. 30 have long been the face of the Golden State Warriors.      

Fans can show support for their favorites while checking NBA scores, with jerseys available through the NBA Store or individual team shops. If you’re a history buff, how about owning a Hall of Famer’s jersey? Even the iconic No. 99 jersey worn by George Mikan, the first great player of the league (Minneapolis Lakers), can be a Hardwood Classic available through the league’s clearinghouse.

Here are a few other factoids about NBA players and their jerseys… 

What Is the Rarest Jersey in the NBA?

Scan the NBA news when it comes to rare jerseys and you get a few categories. Game-worn jerseys by superstars are sought-after items. If and when they’re available (usually via auction), it’s the deep-pocketed disciple of the player who goes home with it. 

Teams have worn “one-off” jerseys as well, either to commemorate in-season holidays (specifically Christmas) or another occasion. There’s an example of the Hurricane Katrina- relocated (to Oklahoma City) New Orleans Hornets back in the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons. The team occasionally wore jerseys with a nod to NOLA, making them sort of a rare commodity.

Of course, New Orleans now has the Pelicans and Oklahoma City has the Thunder. The latter club is a favorite among those who make NBA picks and predictions.

What Is the Least Popular NBA Team?

One doesn’t need to scour the NBA rumors to find teams that are the least popular. Instead, just look at the standings, Find moribund franchises such as the Charlotte Hornets and Washington Wizards in the East, Portland Trail Blazers, and Utah Jazz in the West. It’s not as if they’re playing before empty houses, but these teams with lottery-type odds to win a title, do not have nearly the ability to recruit elite players via free agency nor the fan loyalty of marquee teams with legit shots to win the title.

What Are the Top 10 Selling Jerseys in the NBA?

NBA standings usually correlate to popular player jerseys. Longevity and championships are also factors. Both LeBron James (22 seasons thru 2024-25) of the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors’ Steph Curry (16 seasons thru 2024-25) are unsurprisingly favorites.  

Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo (No. 34) and Boston’s ‘0,’ Jayson Tatum, each won a title with their respective teams, and each is among the best-selling jerseys in the league. 

The MVPs such as Denver’s Nikola Jokic (No. 15) and Philadelphia’s No. 21 Joel Embiid are also popular, dominating the NBA games today.      

Where Is the NBA Most Popular?

It obviously stands to reason the league’s popularity increases in North America (specifically the United States) during the NBA playoffs, when the best teams go after the Larry O’Brien Trophy. Competition is fierce, and no one uses “load management” as an excuse to not play. 

Any Final Thoughts?

NBA jerseys are popular among both fans and collectors, either replicas or the game-worn variety. It’s not uncommon to scan the crowd at a given game and see them out in force.