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Derrick Rose is No. 1. Of course, he is. Any fan of the Chicago Bulls guard and reigning NBA Most Valuable Player knows that. As far as his jersey number is concerned. Actually, Rose’s No. 1 is No. 1 in terms of sales. And the Bulls are No. 1 in merchandise sales. All this is based on sales at NBAStore.com and the NBA Store on Fifth Avenue in New York from April 2011 to the present.
Thanks to Jennifer Hugunin, a Derrick Rose Chicago Bulls jersey never looked so good. Credit: Bersano Photography
Rose rose from No. 5 last year, while the Bulls took the top spot for the first time since April 2001. Even more surprising than Rose’s ascension was that of New York Knicks guard Jeremy Lin, who is No. 2 on the list.
Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers, who has been No, 1 six times since 2001, is No. 3. LeBron James of the Miami Heat, who has been No. 1 twice, is No. 4.
The Lakers had held the top spot among teams since the end of the 2008 season.
This is the sixth season that adidas has served as the NBA’s official oncourt uniform and apparel provider.
Top 15 Most Popular NBA Jerseys:
1. Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls
2. Jeremy Lin, New York Knicks*
3. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
4. LeBron James, Miami Heat
5. Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks
6. Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
7. Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks*
8. Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder
9. Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers
10. Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics
11. Amar’e Stoudemire, New York Knicks
12. Ray Allen, Boston Celtics
13. Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics
14. Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
15. Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers*
Top 10 Most Popular Team Merchandise:
1. Chicago Bulls
2. New York Knicks
3. Los Angeles Lakers
4. Miami Heat
5. Dallas Mavericks*
6. Boston Celtics.
7. Oklahoma City Thunder
8. Los Angeles Clippers*
9. Denver Nuggets
10. Orlando Magic
*Not on last year’s list
Top NBA Jerseys from end of season:
2012 – Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls
2011 – LeBron James, Miami Heat
2010 – Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
2009 – Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
2008 – Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics
2007 – Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
2006 – Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
2005 – Shaquille O’Neal, Miami Heat
2004 – LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
2003 – Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
2002 – Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
2001 – Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
Rose’s jersey was not on display — on the court — for the Bulls-Cleveland game Thursday (April 26), as he sat out a 107-75 victory vs. the visiting Cavaliers to end the regular season. He should be rested for the first-round postseason series against the Philadelpia 76ers that starts Saturday at noon at the United Center. The Bulls (50-16) will have homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs thanks to the best record in the NBA’s truncated season.
“Our team responded to every challenge,” Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said. “We still have a long way to go. This is what you play for, to try to build all the right habits and give yourself the best chance possible to win in the playoffs.”
Speaking of the Bulls-Cavs game, the Matadors were set to perform during the first timeout of the third quarter. So the larger-than-life (or larger-than-average) group of male dancers was waiting in the wings — OK, waiting in one of the paths entering the arena area — for its moment in the sun. Or, in this case, its moment under the bright lights. And the Matadors waited. And waited. And waited.
And then they waited some more. Not until 4:25 remained in the third quarter was there a timeout. Although it would require considerable research to determine with 100 percent certainty, you can be fairly certain that wait for the first timeout after halftime was the longest of the season — if not the longest for several seasons.
And so, your humble correspondent was prepared to shoot video (yes, without benefit of a wide-angle lens). Clicked on the camera as the Matadors entered the court. Video looked blurry. Turned off the camera. Turned it back on. Still the video looked blurry. Turned off the camera. Took out the battery. Put it back in. Turned on the camera. Still blurry. Turned off camera. Scratched head. Turned camera around to look at lens. Saw it was smeared with something. Proabably with grease from potato chips (hopefully, the Matadors can identify with this). Wiped lens. Solved problem. By that time, however, the Matadors were exiting the court.
As an unofficial chronicler of the Matadors (although following the Luvabulls is considerably more fun — nothing personal, fellas), how would it look not to have the Matadors video? Oh, the anguish. Thankfully the problem of not having Matadors video (and, yes, to some folks that qualifies as a problem) has been solved.
Thank you to Vince LiFonti of the Matadors for supplying the video and saving the editorial staff at elliottharris.com the embarrassment of not being able to run the dance team in action.
Speaking of dance teams, we certainly would not forget the Chicago Luvabulls. The entire squad performed at the Bulls-Cavs game. Told you it’s more fun than following the Matadors.
As an added bonus to the following video is the appearance of fan favorite Brian Scalabrine, who entered the game for 2:59 of playing time in the fourth quarter — thereby rivaling the time he spent on the court to serve as the team’s orator in pregame and postgame remarks for the crowd:
Loop Rock Girl Tricia was a delight as a guest on "Sports & Torts."
Talk about the pictures of perfection. Thank you to former big-league pitcher Don Larsen (the only man to throw a perfect game in the World Series — his came in 1956 against the Brooklyn Dodgers) and to Loop Rock Girl Tricia for appearing on the April 26 episode of “Sports & Torts” with co-hosts David Spada and Elliott Harris. For anyone interested in becoming part of the program as an advertiser, feel free to contact David Spada at injuryinillinois.com. That is Tricia in the photo above. David Spada was not present for the interview, but he is free to photoshop himself into the picture if he desires. To go to the interviews on talkzone.com, you can click on here.
If things go according to plan (and occasionally they do), there will be a Friday afternoon posting with more Bulls coverage and possibly some video from the recent Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo.
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