MIAMI _ It is, in the end, the ultimate fun-with-numbers game when it comes to sales of Dwyane Wade jerseys in his final NBA season, including the accounting method.
According to the numbers released by the league Thursday, Wade's iconic No. 3 Miami Heat jersey placed 11th in sales this season.
The numbers, however, are based solely on sales through NBAstore.com, and not through the Heat's outlets, which throughout the season promoted significant sales of the black Vice Nights and fuchsia Sunset Vice jerseys.
As it is, Wade, 37, leaves the NBA selling more jerseys than any other reserve, with Wade the only bench player among those to finish in the Top 15 in sales through the end of the regular season.
The Heat, which mounted significant marketing campaigns in South Florida for both versions of this season's Vice apparel, did not close among the Top 10 teams in merchandise sales, as recorded through NBAstore.com.
The Los Angeles Lakers and LeBron James led the league in merchandise and jersey sales, respectively, boosted by James' offseason shift to the iconic Lakers colors.
