MIAMI -- LeBron James was a little emotional this week when the NBA announced his No. 6 jersey was the worldwide top seller.It had nothing to do with money -- players don't directly profit from their own jersey sales -- but everything to do with perception. The jersey sales chart is generally viewed as a barometer of a player's widespread popularity.It was the first time in seven years James reached the top spot, the last time was at the end of his rookie season with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2004.
NBA Miami Heat Jerseys James said he sees getting back to the first position, unseating Kobe Bryant after a two-year run, as a sign there's been some thawing from fans nationally after his unpopular departure from the Cavs last summer."I never thought I'd get back there," James said Friday as the Miami Heat prepared to open the playoffs against the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday afternoon. "Maybe someday but especially this year, it was humbling. Just getting all the attention and all the bad news about me that was out there -- it was meaningful.""You don't want to live in the past too much but you also want to look at history," Dwyane Wade said. "We do have a trophy here and we are champions and we want to add to that collection. You break out the trophy and guys can see what they want, it's right there."
Accustomed to being cheered across the league, James endured routine boos at arenas this season. He expected it in certain places, especially Cleveland, but getting it everywhere unsettled him. The news about the jersey sales gave him hope t
hat it won't always be that way."It just shows that I've still got a lot of fans out there, man," James said. "I'm not perfect. I've made mistakes.
NBA Jerseys I'm trying to move forward. But as a basketball player and a role model I am trying to do the right thing."Thursday night James and the rest of his teammates were looking for emotion from something else.When Heat president Pat Riley recruited James,
Cheap NFL Tennessee Titans Jerseys, Chris Bosh and other free agents to Miami he brought out his NBA championship rings.In the team's first meeting of the season last fall, coach Erik Spoelstra brought out the team's 2006 Larry O'Brien Trophy; the hardware goes to the NBA champion. The trophy was pulled out again Thursday when the Heat had their gathering for the postseason.After finishing the season by winning 15 of 18 games including key victories over the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics, the Heat are riding some momentum going into the matchup with the 76ers. The Heat were 3-0 against the 76ers during the regular season.
MIAMI -- LeBron James was a little emotional this
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