LeBron James will begin wearing a 23rd season patch that will then be removed from his jersey after games and “some will be placed into ultra-rare trading cards,” Topps announced Monday.
The Lakers star will begin wearing the patch Monday night in Sacramento, where he made his NBA debut in 2003.
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It’s difficult to argue against James being the GOAT of basketball cards. The King has been featured on 24 different cards that have sold for $1 million. Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant have combined for 22.
A 2021 sale of a 2003-04 Exquisite Collection LeBron James Rookie Patch Autograph Rookie Parallel /23 remains the most valuable basketball card in history of a single player, selling for $5.2 million.
It is unknown how many games James will wear this patch for, as well as why he is beginning to wear the patch nearly halfway into the season. A request for comment from Topps was not immediately answered.
James has missed 17 games this season, after sitting out the beginning of the year with sciatica. The recently-turned 41-year-old is averaging 21.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 6.9 assists per game this season, but if he misses one more game this season he will be ineligible for any regular-season awards.
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Should that happen, it would mark the first time since James’ rookie season in which he was not named to an All-NBA team. Though he did win Rookie of the Year that season.
His 21 All-NBA appearances are six more than any other player in league history.
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Matt Liberman is a reporter and video producer for cllct, the premier company for collectible culture.