LeBron James NBA card expected to reach $6 million at auction

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

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 “Triple Logoman” card, a single-issue card featuring the 18-time NBA All-Star LeBron James, including patches taken from jerseys he wore while with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers, is seen in this undated handout photo provided by auctioneers Goldin. Goldin/Handout via REUTERS

“The best comparison that I can use for the modern reader is imagining 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.

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.

Goldin called it the “Holy Grail” of sports 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.

An “ultra-rare” signed a rookie card for the four-time NBA champion broke the record for the 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 June 25.