Los 40 USA
NewslettersSign in to commentAPP
spainSPAINchileCHILEcolombiaCOLOMBIAusaUSAmexicoMEXICOlatin usaLATIN USAamericaAMERICA

NBA

‘Holy Grail’ LeBron James trading card expected to top $6M at auction

Auctioneers are expecting a one-of-a-kind LeBron James Panini trading card to fetch more than $6 million when it goes up for sale this week.

Update:
LeBron James destrona a Conor McGregor como el atleta mejor pagado del mundo
Harry HowAFP

Auctioneers are expecting a one-of-a-kind LeBron James trading card to fetch more than $6 million when it goes up for sale this week.

The “Triple Logoman” card, a single-issue card featuring the 18-time NBA All-Star, includes patches taken from jerseys James wore while with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers.

The "Triple Logoman" card, a single-issue card featuring the 18-time NBA All-Star LeBron James
Full screen
The "Triple Logoman" card, a single-issue card featuring the 18-time NBA All-Star LeBron JamesGoldinvia REUTERS

Issued by Panini as part of its 2020-21 “Flawless” collection, the card set off a frenzied hunt among collectors including Canadian rapper Drake, who bought 10 cases of the pricey basketball cards in a failed attempt to locate it.

“The best comparison that I can use for the modern reader is imagine Willy Wonka (and) the Chocolate Factory, looking for that gold ticket,” Ken Goldin, executive chairman of auctioneers Goldin, told Reuters.

“And then imagine there was only one golden ticket instead of five.”

The card was discovered after a year-long hunt among collectors during a live social media event.

Goldin called it the “Holy Grail” of sport collectibles and believes it could challenge the record for the most expensive sports trading card, topping the $6.6 million paid for the Honus Wagner T-206 baseball card in August.

James, a four-time National Basketball Association (NBA) MVP, already holds a coveted place in the hearts of collectors.

LeBron James
Full screen
LeBron JamesKyle TeradaUSA TODAY Sports

An “ultra-rare” signed rookie card for the four-time NBA champion broke the record for most expensive basketball card ever sold last year, fetching $5.2 million.

It was the second-highest amount paid for any sports trading card, tying the amount paid for a 1952 rookie card for baseball great Mickey Mantle.

The auction for the “Triple Logoman” card opens on Wednesday and closes on 25 June.