LeBron James (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images)
James dropped 25 points, 9 assists, 6 rebounds, and 4 steals. Though the Cavaliers lost the game by 92-106, this was the beginning of a career that would soon dominate every list and chart. The patch features LeBron’s iconic pregame chalk toss silhouette at its center with 23 in the background over three colored stripes representing each franchise he played for: Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and Los Angeles Lakers.
Because in this very city, the 18-year-old James made his official NBA debut back in 2003 for the Cleveland Cavaliers, it is. The custom patch released by NBA is the visual representation of LeBron James’ two-decade NBA journey. To commemorate his record-setting 23rd NBA season, the league has authorized a special-edition patch that James will wear for the remainder of the year. Before understanding what this patch is, it is crucial to know why Sacramento was chosen for this debut.
When LeBron James steps onto the hardwood in Sacramento on Monday night, his jersey will carry more than just the weight of his legacy: it will feature a physical piece of history.
On October 29, 2003, James recorded 25 points against the Kings in his first NBA game and now that he’s returning to the same arena 23 years later, he’s just not a player but he’s league’s all-time leading scorer and a walking legend. The decision to debut the patch on Lakers’ roach game to Sacramento is far from coincidental. These patches are a tribute but they also serve another purpose for the collectible market. In a unique partnership with Topps, after every game each patch will be immediately removed from James’ jersey. Each patch will be dated on video, and then shipped to Topps’ facility in Dallas where they’ll be authenticated by CGC. After authentication, each patch will be then embedded into ultra-rare trading cards. These one-of-one collectible items for every night James takes the floor, will further cement his 23rd season as a historic campaign for both the record books and the fans.