Jerseys that LeBron and Bronny James wore the night they became the first father and son to play in an NBA game together sold as a pair at auction for $102,000 on Wednesday.
In May, Sotheby’s sold a jersey worn by LeBron James in the Los Angeles Lakers’ In-Season Tournament semifinal win over the New Orleans Pelicans last year for $120,000. That event was arguably far less significant or as widely celebrated as the one LeBron and Bronny James shared at the start of this season. Given that, and how Bronny James’ NBA Summer League debut jersey sold on its own for $38,400, also through Sotheby’s, in September, the final sale price for the father and son duo’s jerseys from their historic night may seem significantly lower than it could have been. There are several potential reasons for that, though.
LeBron and Bronny James briefly appeared together near the end of the first half of the Lakers’ regular season opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Oct. 22. It only lasted a couple of minutes, but it was enough to make NBA history. Bronny James did not play in the second half of that game — a key detail given that Sotheby’s said in its catalogue notes for the auction that the jersey listed was one he wore in that second half. For that reason, it could not be photomatched to the game “due to a lack of media of Bronny without a warm-up jacket on.” Sotheby’s also noted that “First Game 2D Half 10/22” was handwritten on the jersey’s jock tag. So these weren’t both of the jerseys they wore in the moment that they played together that night.
Beyond that, Bronny James has struggled to make an impact with the Lakers, as is to be expected for a second round pick. Since opening night, he has only appeared in four more games with the Lakers, playing a total of 13 minutes. He has also appeared in two G League games with the South Bay Lakers. Most recently he has been inactive with a bruised heel. As a result, the initial hype and excitement from that special moment on Oct. 22 has certainly died down.
Another potential factor is that, as a result of the NBA’s partnership with Sotheby’s, more and more LeBron James game-used jerseys have been hitting the market, perhaps recalibrating the supply/demand equation.
Still, these were items from a uniquely historic event. Whether they were a bargain or not is still to be determined.
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(Top photo: Harry How/Getty Images)
