| NEW YORK (AP) -- Kevin Garnett's trade to Boston has people going green.
Garnett's Celtics jersey was the top seller at the NBA store and on
NBAstore.com for the holiday season, the league announced Tuesday.
Boston also topped the team merchandise sales category for the first
time since lists were compiled in 2001. Garnett's sales have
tripled in his first season since being traded from Minnesota. He
wasn't even on last year's list, last appearing at No. 16 at the end of
the 2005-06 season. He changed to No. 5 in Boston after wearing No. 21
with the Timberwolves. He replaced the Lakers' Kobe Bryant, who dropped one spot on the list. Denver's Allen Iverson moved up one to third, with Cleveland's LeBron James and Phoenix guard Steve Nash rounding out the top five.
The Celtics were seventh in team sales when last season ended. The
Lakers were second, followed by three teams that remain popular even
while losing: New York, Chicago and Miami. The NBA Store and
its Web site had their strongest sales quarter ever to close 2007, a
6.5 percent increase over the previous year. Sales on NBAstore.com were
up 14 percent in December, its best month yet. |