Luka Doncic dethroned Steph Curry and LeBron James on the list of top-selling NBA jerseys for the 2024-25 season, with the Los Angeles Lakers leading the league in merchandise sales

Luka Doncic overtook LeBron James and Steph Curry as the top jersey seller this season(Image: Photo by Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Luka Doncic dethroned Steph Curry and LeBron James on the list of top-selling NBA jerseys for the 2024-25 season.

Curry and James have long had a grip on NBA jersey sales, as evidenced by their decade-long grapple in that market. Doncic is the first player since the 2012-13 season to have accomplished that feat, joining NBA legend Carmelo Anthony in that regard, and is the first international player to top the list.

Additionally, the NBA noted that online jersey sales since the February 6 trade deadlne are up 21 percent compared to the same period last year, with the league stating that the main driver in increased sales was Doncic’s trade to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers also led the league in merchandise sales despite the Boston Celtics leading at that point.

Jersey and merchandise sales aside, the Lakers’ trade for Doncic was a deal no one in the basketball world saw coming, especially after the Slovenian star just led the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Finals less than one year ago. Los Angeles traded a package headlined by Anthony Davis to Dallas for Doncic in an exchange that left many scratching their heads.

And while Davis is not a bad player by any means, Doncic was a player that many general managers around the league deemed to be untouchable, considering his age (26) and his feel for the game. Not only were teams around the league shocked by the deal, but Mavericks fans were inconsolable after the trade.

Shortly after the trade, fans gathered in front of the American Airlines Center en mass to grieve the loss of the franchise superstar. Some fans even brought out a fake coffin to signify the death of their allegiance to the team as well as Doncic’s time in Dallas.

Doncic surpassed Curry as the NBA’s top jersey seller this season(Image: Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)

Even Mavericks play-by-play announcer Mark Followill was distraught in the aftermath of the trade. Before the Mavericks’ matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Feb. 2, Dallas’ longtime announcer had to address fans on what to expect from the team moving forward.

“I’m sorry if I look a little haggard today, like a lot of you – I didn’t sleep very well last night,” he said at the time. “We’re stunned, we’re shocked, we’re going through it. You all know what I’m talking about. The end of one era, the beginning of another.

“The news came down last night and reports officially this morning at 10:05 Eastern, 9:05 Central Time. Luka Doncic traded to the Los Angeles Lakers with Maxi Kleber and Markeiff Morris for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a first-round pick in the future.”

Considering how the trade was received by fans, Doncic showed his true feelings after being dealt to a Western Conference rival. In his first game back in Dallas, the Mavericks showed a lengthy video tribute for Doncic, leaving the 26-year-old visibly emotional as he watched.

Doncic continued to wipe tears from his face as he came to terms with how his Mavericks tenure ended. Despite the highly emotional start to the game, Doncic finished with 45 points, talking to ESPN’s Lisa Salters about how he kept his emotions at bay.

“I don’t know how I did it, because when I was watching that video, I was like, ‘There’s no way I’m playing this game. But, you know, all my teammates had my back. They were really supporting me, so I really appreciate that,” he shared.