The jersey donned by LeBron James on "The Chosen One" cover of Sports Illustrated in 2002 will hit the auction block for the third time since 2019, carrying an estimate of $1 million to $2 million.
Julien’s Auctions, which last sold the jersey for $512,200 in 2021, will handle the sale as part of its “Legends in Motion” auction in Hong Kong on Sept. 28.
Just a high school junior at the time, James’ appearance on the magazine represented an unprecedented level of pressure for such a young athlete. In the years since, the cover has become one of the most recognizable of the 21st century, largely due to the improbable fact James somehow lived up to the expectations.
The shoot for the magazine took place Feb. 3, 2002, just a few weeks prior to the issue’s release. James wore that same St. Vincent-St. Mary jersey later that day in a game against the Archbishop Hoban Knights.
Sotheby’s 2023 sale of a game-worn jersey from Game 7 of the 2013 NBA Finals, which fetched $3.68 million, currently holds the record for the most expensive James jersey ever sold.
The all-time record for any basketball jersey belongs to the Michael Jordan 1998 NBA Finals “Last Dance” jersey, which sold for $10.09 million in 2022.
Unlike most record-setting jerseys, this one derives its value not from an iconic in-game moment, debut or championship, but rather, an indelible image. The magazine itself is a highly valued collectible, a copy of which sold for as much as $9,000 in CGC 9.8 condition in 2022.
Other cover-worn pieces have seen massive interest from collectors outside the sports realm as well. A Versace Dress worn by Princess Diana on the cover of a 1997 tribute edition of Harper's Bazaar — possibly the first dress designed for the Princess by Gianni Versace — sold for $200,000 in 2015.
Will Stern is a reporter and editor for cllct.