In updates from 2018, 2019, and 2020, the Houston Rockets were among the NBA’s best sellers — ranking in the top 10 in both jersey sales (mostly for James Harden) and overall merchandise at NBAStore.com.
In 2021, after Harden’s forced departure to the Nets, the Rockets are no longer in such a strong business position. From the league’s new update on sales in the second half of the 2020-21 season — the first period entirely after Harden’s January 2021 trade — the Rockets are not found anywhere among the top 10 in team merchandise or top 15 jerseys sold.
Harden’s new Brooklyn jersey did crack the list at No. 9, while the Nets soared to the No. 2 spot in overall team sales. In 2020, the Nets weren’t even among the top 10 in merchandise sales by franchise.
The fact that the Rockets tumbled to the league’s worst record (17-55) in the 2020-21 season certainly didn’t incentivize fans to buy merchandise. The good news for Houston, though, is that their lowly record helped secure the No. 2 overall pick in the upcoming 2021 NBA draft. From there, the new Rockets jersey of a prized rookie prospect might have a good chance at cracking the list during the 2021-22 season.
https://t.co/Pqxh2EPubW – Giannis jumps to No. 2 in NBA's most popular jersey ranking
LeBron James and the Lakers remain atop the league's most popular jersey and team merchandise sales, while the Bucks and Suns will finish top five in team sales.https://t.co/iwVHwhwbOT
— NBA (@NBA) July 14, 2021
