LeBron James’ jersey he wore for the 2013 NBA Finals while playing for the Miami Heat has been auctioned for a staggering $3.7 million. The auction is the highest price for any jersey ever won by the NBA star, according to Forbes.
The platform also added that it is the third most valuable game-worn jersey ever auctioned. This was made known on Friday by Sotheby’s auction house. It trails Michael Jordan’s 1998 NBA Finals top and Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” jersey. They were sold for $10.1 million and $9.3 million respectively.
The previous record paid for a game-worn James jersey was $630,000 and it was for James’ 2020 NBA All-Star Game top.
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“Today’s tremendous result comes at a pivotal time in LeBron James’ career, where he is in arm’s reach of clenching the all-time points record—one of the NBA’s most revered accolades,” Brahm Wachter, Sotheby’s head of streetwear and collectibles, said in a statement.
“Just months after the record-breaking sale of Michael Jordan ‘Last Dance’ 1998 NBA finals jersey, this successful sale of another incomparable legend’s jersey—one of the most significant jerseys to ever hit the auction block—further proves that the demand for sports memorabilia is at an all-time high and that the magic of sports continues to transcend and ignite fans and collectors alike.”
The jersey was worn by James when he won his second career NBA championship in 2013. In that Game 7 win, he led Miami Heat to beat the San Antonio Spurs to clinch back-to-back championships, according to robbreport.com.
It was also during the game that he made his first career NBA Finals Game 7 appearance, and recorded an impressive 37 points and 12 rebounds. He was subsequently named the NBA Finals MVP for the second year in a row.
In April last year, James achieved another historic feat, following the sale of his signed 2003 James Exquisite Collection patch rookie card for $5.2 million. The sale ties the all-time record sale for any card with the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card purchased by Rob Gough.
