People love basketball, and the NBA, and what better way to show it than by buying official gear and merchandise? I'm kidding, mostly, but Lids did us a solid by revealing the list of the best selling jerseys and hats, as well as a map of the most popular teams in each state. With one exception, these all make a lot of sense.

We are kicking off the NBA season with our top 10 best-selling NBA team and player jerseys. Are you surprised? pic.twitter.com/pG37uAeV9r

— Lids (@lids) October 19, 2022

Most of these players are retired, which makes sense, since buying a jersey of a current player can be very risky. Seven of the ten on this list are HOF dudes, and the other three are on their way there someday.

As a lifelong New Yorker, and Knicks fan, I find it absolutely ridiculous that New York state sells more LA Lakers gear than merch representing any other team. This is absurd, and I refuse to believe it. Those must all be tourists, because there is no love here for most of the current Brooklyn Nets roster, let alone LeBron James, who did not sign with the Knicks in 2010.

Otherwise, the rest of the map looks very accurate. Sad Florida couldn't get any love for the Heat or Magic, though. A real shame. And Indiana? Really? You couldn't muster enough Pacers fans together to out-buy your blood rival in Illinois?

And finally, these player-specific EmbroidiGraph hats highlight that people love non-All-Star Chicago Bulls players a whole lot. It's a little shocking that Coby White and Alex Caruso are on here over the most popular players in the league, although the rest of the list makes a lot of sense.

Via Lids and CBS News.