The Christmas rise of Jalen Brunson and the Christmas fall of Tommy DeVito got us to thinking: Who are the most beloved athletes in the area as we flip the calendar to 2024?

Let’s lay out the parameters for the inexact science of whom we are ranking:

• We’re talking about the most beloved players and not the best players. Certainly Juan Soto has the ability to crack this list in the future, but not before he has played a game in pinstripes.

• But yes, performance matters. If the Cedar Grove-raised DeVito develops into a career backup, he still would be a fan favorite, but he would not be the one selling the most jerseys.