A LeBron James jersey worn during an NBA finals where he chained prowess with the Miami Heat in 2013, was sold for 3.7 million dollars at auction Friday at Sotheby’s in New York, a record for a jersey of the player.
The price does not make it the most expensive sports jersey in history at auction, records broken in 2022 by the blue one worn by Argentina captain Diego Maradona during the FIFA World Cup. football in 1986 (9.3 million dollars) then by a jersey of No. 23 of the Chicago Bulls, Michael Jordan, who wore it during his last victorious NBA title in 1998 (10.1 million dollars).
With 37 points and 12 rebounds, LeBron James was decisive on the evening of June 20, 2013, in the seventh and final game of the NBA Finals, allowing the Miami Heat to win over the San Antonio Spurs, for a second NBA title. in a row.
The sale comes as LeBron James, who now plays for the Lakers, is on track to become the leading scorer in NBA history, ahead of Kareem Abduj-Jabbar (38,387 points). The buyer is “a private collector”, Sotheby’s said, without further details.
The sports collectibles market has been booming for a few years. This new sale shows that demand “has never been so strong”, said Brahm Wachter, who heads the streetwear and modern collectibles department at Sotheby’s.
At the same session on Friday in New York, an aubergine ball gown worn by Princess Diana, and created by designer Victor Edelstein, sold for $604,800, “after fierce bidding rounds”, Sotheby’s said. on Twitter.
Estimated between $80,000 and $120,000 by Sotheby’s, the dress was “notably famous for being part of an auction of 80 dresses” from the princess’s personal collection for charity in 1997, the company said.
Bought at the time for 24,150 dollars, “it had remained in the same private hands since”, specifies Sotheby’s, without giving information on the new buyer.
On January 18, American reality TV and social media star Kim Kardashian bought Attalah’s crucifix, the famous pendant worn by Princess Diana, at auction in London.
