After news recently surfaced that J.R. Smith’s Game 1 jersey sold for upwards of $23,000, it is now being reported that LeBron James’ jersey for the same game has been auctioned at more than quadruple the price.
As seen from the NBA Auctions website, the No. 23 Black ‘Statement’ jersey was purchased for $100,322 after it was auctioned to the public.
These two jerseys have extremely opposing backstories behind them.
Smith’s unforgettable last-minute brain malfunction during Game 1, which many believe to be the turning point of the championship series for the Cleveland Cavaliers, has made his Game 1 jersey somewhat of a novelty item. As it turns out, one fan was willing to pay more than $20,000 for the memorabilia, which will forever be part of basketball folklore.
On the other hand, LeBron’s Game 1 performance was one for the books. His 51-point, eight-rebound, and eight-assist performance epitomized his season-long heroics for a Cavs team that he almost literally carried on his shoulders. The price tag for James’ Game 1 jersey is surely one of the highest paid for a player on a losing team.
What makes this piece of clothing even more valuable is the fact that it may be one of the last Cavaliers jersey James ever wore. Should the Cavaliers front office ultimately fail in their efforts to re-sign LeBron this offseason, then the 33-year-old’s Game 1 epic showing will perhaps be considered as his last, most relevant performance as a Cavalier, adding even more value to the game-worn memorabilia.