Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James during an NBA game.
A rare LeBron James rookie card just sold for $1.11 million, adding another jaw-dropping off-court milestone for the Los Angeles Lakers superstar.
According to Cllct’s Matt Liberman (via Bleacher Report), a 2003 Topps Chrome Gold Refractor LeBron James rookie fetched $1.11 million in a sale last week. The transaction is the latest reminder that even while James continues chasing wins in purple and gold, his collectibles market still moves like a main-event attraction. The card was a PSA 10 copy of the 2003 Topps Chrome Gold Refractor LeBron James RC and highlighting just how rare elite-condition examples are.
The $1.11 Million LeBron Card: Why This One Is a “Grail”
The key detail: Gold Refractor /50. That means Topps produced 50 copies of the gold version, instantly putting it in true short-print territory for a modern icon.
Sports Illustrated’s breakdown pointed out how few have graded at the very top. In its recap, the outlet noted that of the copies graded by PSA, only a small number have earned a perfect 10 grade, exactly the kind of detail that drives seven-figure prices in today’s high-end card market.
For Lakers fans, it’s another “LeBron is LeBron” moment, because the price isn’t just about a shiny card. It’s about a player whose career résumé keeps expanding, while the hobby continues treating his best rookie-era pieces like blue-chip assets.
What It Means for LeBron’s Legacy (and the Lakers’ Spotlight)
James is still playing in his 23rd NBA season, which only adds fuel to the collectibles engine. This season he’s averaging 22.4 points, 6 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game. The longer he’s on the floor adding to the all-time counting stats and career highlights, the more his early-career cards carry that “foundational” value collectors chase,especially when they’re scarce and graded pristine.
It’s also another reminder of the Lakers effect: superstars in Los Angeles tend to live at the center of the basketball universe, and James has spent years turning routine nights into headline moments. That constant visibility matters in the memorabilia space, where attention and narrative can move markets.
The Lakers have also stayed in the mix, with Los Angeles at 28-17 entering the Jan. 28 matchup with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Off the court, James’ business empire continues to balloon. Forbes listed him at $1.3 billion in real-time net worth as of Jan. 28, 2026. He also opted into a $52.6 million player option for the 2025-26 season, per the Associated Press.
This Isn’t Even LeBron’s Card Record
As huge as $1.11 million is, it still isn’t James’ personal peak. It’s just his latest big news, and the biggest NBA card say during this calendar year.
Bleacher Report noted the sale remains well below the $5.2 million paid in 2021 for a 2003-04 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection LeBron rookie card featuring an autograph and jersey patch. That context matters: it shows how the seven-figure LeBron market isn’t a one-off; it’s a tier.
And that’s the bigger takeaway for Lakers fans: while Los Angeles keeps chasing the next big moment on the court, LeBron’s name continues cashing checks everywhere else, too; sometimes to the tune of $1.11 million for a single rookie card.