LeBron James Collectible Loses Value Over $300K In Four Years

LeBron James memorabilia prices were expected to go up considering he could retire soon after amassing a lot of individual accolades.

LeBron James Collectible Loses Value Over $300K In Four Years

LeBron James' trading card loses value (Image via FirstSportz)

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LeBron James is about to enter year 23, which also could be the last in his illustrious career. Over that span, he has amassed several accolades and sits firmly in the GOAT debate.

Even though the GOAT debate will continue for eternity, there is no doubting his legacy as one of the best to ever play the game. The resultant stardom has seen him stay in the top 5 in jersey sales and ticket demands.

All that for someone who is 40 years old, and still plays at an All-NBA level. Once he retires, it is widely expected that memorabilia attached to the Akron native will soar in value.

His 2013 NBA Finals Game 7 jersey is one of the most expensive game-worn jerseys ever sold at auction. However, the same might not be the case when it comes to trading cards.

A PSA 10 mint condition 2003-04 Topps Chrome Black Refractor #111 LeBron James Rookie Card recently went up on the auction site, Goldin. After nearly a month of bidding, the card was sold for $112,240, including buyer’s premium.

This was card no. 287 out of the original lot of 500. The last card from that set to sell in 6 figures was No. 284, another PSA 10 graded gem mint condition card. That card sold for $480,000 on Heritage Auctions back in 2021.

This means similar cards lost over $300K in value over 4 years. Usually, prices for such mint condition cards should be on the up, as is evident from Michael Jordan‘s cards that sell for a premium on every opportunity they land in auction. But in this case, it was not to be.

Is LeBron James’ longevity impacting value of memorabilia?

There was a time when a rare LeBron James rookie card would sell for nearly 7 figures or more. Then there was the 2013 NBA Finals jersey, which sold for a ridiculous $3.7 million.

Those numbers are for extremely rare items, and this particular card, which sold for $112,240, is not that rare. It so happens that there are 20 such Topps Chrome Black Refractor #111 LeBron James Rookie Cards in existence that have a PSA 10 grade along with the gem mint label.

That many cards tend to drive down prices, especially since collectors are aware of the existence of all these cards. Over the past few years, the knowledge about these cards has helped collectors know the whereabouts of these cards.

Therefore, they might be biding their time to bid on these. On top of it, the $480,000 a collector paid for the No. 284 card was probably because James had just won his 4th title, and it seemed at the time that he could win another 1 or 2.

Since then, James and the Lakers have been a disappointment, and that could have led to this drop in prices. Memorabilia value depends on the achievements of the athlete, and maybe a 5th title could help prices skyrocket again.

A 5th title will do LeBron James’ GOAT claims some favors

The problem fans now have with LeBron James is that he claims that he is the greatest player of all time, but the title challenge of these past 5 seasons has not helped matters.

Rookie LeBron James with the Cavaliers
Rookie LeBron James with the Cavaliers (Image via NBA)

Understandably, the Lakers have not been a team with which he can contend. But fans, especially those who were hoping for a proper claim to be the GOAT, believe his chances are slipping away.

Unless he wins a 5th NBA title, at this age, and in what could possibly be his last season in the league, it will go a long way to help his GOAT stance. If this happens, expect fans to crown him the greatest of all time. Then, these memorabilia prices will shoot through the roof.

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