Basketball
See also : Origins of Sport Sport memorabilia Sport document Sports card > 1945 Sport equipment Autograph Canada /
1891 Ball and Basket for Indoor Sport
2010 SOLD 4.3 M$ including premium
Basketball (originally spelled Basket-Ball) is a sport of flexibility and skill. It was created in 1891 in the United States, a little late compared to other competitive sports whose growth is linked to the development of transportation.
By design, it is not a rough sport. The idea of the inventor, the Canadian James Naismith, was to occupy without risk of injury the sportsmen in winter, when weather conditions do not allow to play baseball or football.
The elevated position of the baskets gives a specific interest to this sport that does not invite to physical contact. One can argue whether similar sports existed before basketball and inspired Naismit. No matter: the basketball based on his thirteen rules has become one of the most popular sports due to the simplicity of its required equipment.
Naismith had typed these thirteen rules, in two sheets that he modified by hand writing and signed. His family, who had kept this precious document, sells it at Sotheby's in New York on December 10 for the benefit of a Canadian foundation that spreads the ideals of sportsmanship of the inventor. The photo of these pages is shared by Artdaily.
It is clear that this lot is highly important in the history of sport. The auction house devoted a separate catalog to it, and expects $ 2M.
POST SALE COMMENT
The invention of basketball is really a major act of modern history, one of those advances that have impacted the lives and behavior of millions of people. The document was sold for $ 4.3 million including premium.
I invite you to play the video shared on the web by Sotheby's :
By design, it is not a rough sport. The idea of the inventor, the Canadian James Naismith, was to occupy without risk of injury the sportsmen in winter, when weather conditions do not allow to play baseball or football.
The elevated position of the baskets gives a specific interest to this sport that does not invite to physical contact. One can argue whether similar sports existed before basketball and inspired Naismit. No matter: the basketball based on his thirteen rules has become one of the most popular sports due to the simplicity of its required equipment.
Naismith had typed these thirteen rules, in two sheets that he modified by hand writing and signed. His family, who had kept this precious document, sells it at Sotheby's in New York on December 10 for the benefit of a Canadian foundation that spreads the ideals of sportsmanship of the inventor. The photo of these pages is shared by Artdaily.
It is clear that this lot is highly important in the history of sport. The auction house devoted a separate catalog to it, and expects $ 2M.
POST SALE COMMENT
The invention of basketball is really a major act of modern history, one of those advances that have impacted the lives and behavior of millions of people. The document was sold for $ 4.3 million including premium.
I invite you to play the video shared on the web by Sotheby's :
1962 Give the Ball to Wilt Chamberlain
2019 SOLD for $ 215K including premium
For Wilt Chamberlain, the 1961-1962 NBA season is the year of all records. Playing in the Philadelphia Warriors team, he scores on average more than 50 points per game for a total close to 4,000 points. In 1986-1987 Michael Jordan will score 3,041 points only.
On December 8 Wilt scored 78 points against the Los Angeles Lakers, breaking the record of points scored in a single NBA game set in the previous year by Elgin Baylor. Observers feel that Wilt "the Dipper" can do even better with his 2.16 m and his 25 years.
On March 2, 1962 in Hershey near Philadelphia, the Warriors receive the New York Knicks. The match promises to be banal. The arena is half empty and the press dit not condescend to attend. Wilt appears in top fitness. At halftime his teammate Guy Rodgers says : "Let's get the ball to Dip. Lets's see how many he can get". Excited by the speaker, the crowd chants "Give it to Wilt".
In this match without overtime, Wilt Chamberlain scores exactly 100 points, the last of them 46 seconds before the end on the pass from a teammate who had given up an easy point for that purpose. This is the greatest feat in the history of the NBA. Even today no one else has approached such a result in a single game. Kobe Bryant will score 81 points on January 22, 2006.
The Hershey match is won by the Warriors on the epic score of 169-147. Few memories survived but part of the game court was cut into small pieces offered to fans for the 50th year of the event in 2012.
On February 11, 2012, Grey Flannel sold for $ 108K including premium an official scorecard bearing the autograph signature of the champion.
In an online sale ending on April 27, SCP Auctions sells as lot 355 another scorecard, prepared by the "statistician" of the Warriors. This document clearly identifies the 100 points scored by the champion, whose recording largely encroaches over the line scheduled for Rodgers. This document also is signed by Wilt Chamberlain.
On December 8 Wilt scored 78 points against the Los Angeles Lakers, breaking the record of points scored in a single NBA game set in the previous year by Elgin Baylor. Observers feel that Wilt "the Dipper" can do even better with his 2.16 m and his 25 years.
On March 2, 1962 in Hershey near Philadelphia, the Warriors receive the New York Knicks. The match promises to be banal. The arena is half empty and the press dit not condescend to attend. Wilt appears in top fitness. At halftime his teammate Guy Rodgers says : "Let's get the ball to Dip. Lets's see how many he can get". Excited by the speaker, the crowd chants "Give it to Wilt".
In this match without overtime, Wilt Chamberlain scores exactly 100 points, the last of them 46 seconds before the end on the pass from a teammate who had given up an easy point for that purpose. This is the greatest feat in the history of the NBA. Even today no one else has approached such a result in a single game. Kobe Bryant will score 81 points on January 22, 2006.
The Hershey match is won by the Warriors on the epic score of 169-147. Few memories survived but part of the game court was cut into small pieces offered to fans for the 50th year of the event in 2012.
On February 11, 2012, Grey Flannel sold for $ 108K including premium an official scorecard bearing the autograph signature of the champion.
In an online sale ending on April 27, SCP Auctions sells as lot 355 another scorecard, prepared by the "statistician" of the Warriors. This document clearly identifies the 100 points scored by the champion, whose recording largely encroaches over the line scheduled for Rodgers. This document also is signed by Wilt Chamberlain.
1969 Reminding Lew Alcindor
2016 SOLD for $ 500K including premium
The name of Lew Alcindor quickly disappeared from basketball history : like Cassius Clay, he islamized it. Having become Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at the end of the 1970-1971 season, he is the best scorer in the National Basketball Association (NBA) with no less than 38,387 points in twenty seasons, from 1969 to 1989.
From his college career, a team that employs Lew becomes a winner. He adds to his towering height, 2.18 m, an impeccable technique, extending an arm for the shot while outstretching the other arm to counter the defenders. He deserves a reputation of invincibility but suffered the hard game of his competitors jealous of his easiness and success.
Lew signs his first NBA contract in 1969 with the Milwaukee Bucks whose performance in the previous season had been particularly poor. Lew leads the Bucks to victory. He is elected Rookie of the Year in the NBA for the 1969-1970 season and Most Valuable Player for no less than six of the ten next seasons.
Topps publishes in 1969 the rookie card of Lew Alcindor including on the reverse a comment that is already extremely positive : "Lew came to the NBA with the most impressive set of credentials in history".
This 1969-25 card is a headache for collectors. The player is shown in an oval on a white background that is conducive to reveal stains and wear. Only one perfect copy is known, graded Gem Mint 10 by PSA. This exceptional example is listed by Heritage in Dallas on August 27 with a guide value of $ 400K, lot 80077.
From his college career, a team that employs Lew becomes a winner. He adds to his towering height, 2.18 m, an impeccable technique, extending an arm for the shot while outstretching the other arm to counter the defenders. He deserves a reputation of invincibility but suffered the hard game of his competitors jealous of his easiness and success.
Lew signs his first NBA contract in 1969 with the Milwaukee Bucks whose performance in the previous season had been particularly poor. Lew leads the Bucks to victory. He is elected Rookie of the Year in the NBA for the 1969-1970 season and Most Valuable Player for no less than six of the ten next seasons.
Topps publishes in 1969 the rookie card of Lew Alcindor including on the reverse a comment that is already extremely positive : "Lew came to the NBA with the most impressive set of credentials in history".
This 1969-25 card is a headache for collectors. The player is shown in an oval on a white background that is conducive to reveal stains and wear. Only one perfect copy is known, graded Gem Mint 10 by PSA. This exceptional example is listed by Heritage in Dallas on August 27 with a guide value of $ 400K, lot 80077.
1985 Smash in the Backboard
2020 SOLD for $ 615K including premium
Michael Jordan gradually emerges as the greatest champion of the 20th century. Regarding his sneakers, his career has been accompanied by Nike with a continuous sense of marketing.
In 1985, after his first year in the NBA, Nike releases an Air Jordan model in the colors of his team, the Chicago Bulls, red, white and black. Exhibition matches are sponsored by Nike. On August 25 he is in Trieste where he plays with the local Stefanel team against the Snaidero Caserta. He wears his number 23 on the Stefanel's black and orange jersey, and a pair of Air Jordan 1 Chicago shoes.
Jordan is only 1.98 m tall but he scores many points with his aggressive strategy and spectacular leaps. The quality of the shoes must be perfect, and Nike will even use a logo showing the champion in extension during a jump.
The demonstration of Trieste is successful : he scores 30 points, with his spectacular flexibility. One of his leaps is hampered by the proximity of the defenders. Michael jumps so high that he passes the basket and throws the ball into the glass backboard which crumbles into small pieces.
Always seeking to appeal customers by remembering memorable actions, Nike-Jordan released in 2015 a limited edition Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG Shattered Backboard with the colors of Trieste. This type of series is announced in advance, the price is reasonable, and it is the rush of collectors on the first day of availability that justifies the operation in terms of marketing.
The pair of sneakers used by Jordan in Trieste was signed and presented by him to the captain of the home team. A tiny shard of glass remained embedded in the sole of the left shoe, authenticating the pair's use during this remarkably failed dunk. Such an identification is exceptional since photo-matching is not suitable for differentiating the sneakers.
This original pair has become desirable due to the commemorative edition. It is estimated $ 650K by Christie's in an online sale that closes on August 13, lot 3.
In 1985, after his first year in the NBA, Nike releases an Air Jordan model in the colors of his team, the Chicago Bulls, red, white and black. Exhibition matches are sponsored by Nike. On August 25 he is in Trieste where he plays with the local Stefanel team against the Snaidero Caserta. He wears his number 23 on the Stefanel's black and orange jersey, and a pair of Air Jordan 1 Chicago shoes.
Jordan is only 1.98 m tall but he scores many points with his aggressive strategy and spectacular leaps. The quality of the shoes must be perfect, and Nike will even use a logo showing the champion in extension during a jump.
The demonstration of Trieste is successful : he scores 30 points, with his spectacular flexibility. One of his leaps is hampered by the proximity of the defenders. Michael jumps so high that he passes the basket and throws the ball into the glass backboard which crumbles into small pieces.
Always seeking to appeal customers by remembering memorable actions, Nike-Jordan released in 2015 a limited edition Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG Shattered Backboard with the colors of Trieste. This type of series is announced in advance, the price is reasonable, and it is the rush of collectors on the first day of availability that justifies the operation in terms of marketing.
The pair of sneakers used by Jordan in Trieste was signed and presented by him to the captain of the home team. A tiny shard of glass remained embedded in the sole of the left shoe, authenticating the pair's use during this remarkably failed dunk. Such an identification is exceptional since photo-matching is not suitable for differentiating the sneakers.
This original pair has become desirable due to the commemorative edition. It is estimated $ 650K by Christie's in an online sale that closes on August 13, lot 3.
1985 Air Jordan 1 by Nike
2020 SOLD for $ 560K including premium by Sotheby's
narrated post sale in 2020
Michael Jordan begins his NBA career in 1984 with the Chicago Bulls. From the first weeks, he is considered as one of the greatest basketball players of all time by his success in the basket and his aerial jumps. He will be nicknamed His Airness. For the 1984-1985 season, Jordan wears Nike Air Force One shoes.
Jordan's success leads Nike to promote basketball by designing custom sneakers for the top champions. Jordan is assisted by the sports agent David Falk, a specialist in trade promotions for NBA players.
Nike produces for the use of Jordan pairs of shoes in size 13 for the left foot and 13.5 for the right foot, with air-cushioned soles. They are in the colors of the Bulls, white, black and red, a non-compliance with the rules of uniform clothing of the NBA. With an ingenious advertising intuition, Nike announces: "The NBA excluded them from the game but cannot prohibit you from wearing them".
Nike creates with Falk the name Air Jordan for this line of products. The success will be considerable. With a renewal of its models each year, Nike currently has in its catalog the Air Jordan XXXIV. The Nike Jordan cumulative sales have reached 100 million pairs. Michael Jordan is more generally one of the best marketed players in the history of sports, behind Tiger Woods.
On May 17, 2020, Sotheby's sold for $ 560K including premium over a lower estimate of $ 100K a pair of Nike Air Jordan 1 Player Sample shoes in the colors of the Bulls manufactured from February to April 1985, lot 1. The right shoe was signed by the champion with a black marker.
The NBA had indeed given way. MJ wore that pair in all games until October 1985 when his career was temporarily interrupted by a broken foot. The fashion for colorful sneakers was launched in basketball.
LATER COMMENT
A pair of post-injury modification Air Jordan 1 sneakers game used by Michael Jordan in the 1985-1986 season was sold for $ 380K before fees by Gotta Have Rock and Roll on August 1, 2020, lot 2.
Jordan's success leads Nike to promote basketball by designing custom sneakers for the top champions. Jordan is assisted by the sports agent David Falk, a specialist in trade promotions for NBA players.
Nike produces for the use of Jordan pairs of shoes in size 13 for the left foot and 13.5 for the right foot, with air-cushioned soles. They are in the colors of the Bulls, white, black and red, a non-compliance with the rules of uniform clothing of the NBA. With an ingenious advertising intuition, Nike announces: "The NBA excluded them from the game but cannot prohibit you from wearing them".
Nike creates with Falk the name Air Jordan for this line of products. The success will be considerable. With a renewal of its models each year, Nike currently has in its catalog the Air Jordan XXXIV. The Nike Jordan cumulative sales have reached 100 million pairs. Michael Jordan is more generally one of the best marketed players in the history of sports, behind Tiger Woods.
On May 17, 2020, Sotheby's sold for $ 560K including premium over a lower estimate of $ 100K a pair of Nike Air Jordan 1 Player Sample shoes in the colors of the Bulls manufactured from February to April 1985, lot 1. The right shoe was signed by the champion with a black marker.
The NBA had indeed given way. MJ wore that pair in all games until October 1985 when his career was temporarily interrupted by a broken foot. The fashion for colorful sneakers was launched in basketball.
LATER COMMENT
A pair of post-injury modification Air Jordan 1 sneakers game used by Michael Jordan in the 1985-1986 season was sold for $ 380K before fees by Gotta Have Rock and Roll on August 1, 2020, lot 2.
1986 Fleer on Basketball
2020 SOLD for $ 1.8M including premium
Despite NBA support, the basketball cards had fallen into disuse. Topps had abandoned this sport after the 1981-82 season. The series released in 1986 for the 1986-87 season by Fleer, the maker of bubble gum, is a resurrection.
Because of this hiatus, many young players had not yet had a regular trading card and their 1986 Fleer is considered by collectors as their rookie card. They include Michael Jordan who had begun his NBA career in 1984.
In 2020 Jordan's glory is at its peak, driven by the success of the television documentary series named The Last Dance. Collectors are flocking to his rookie card, although it is not uncommon including about 300 cards graded Gem Mint.
A card graded Gem Mint 10 by PSA was sold for $ 96K including premium by Heritage on May 8, 2020, breaking by far the previous record set 19 days earlier by the same auction house. Another copy of the same grade will be sold online by Heritage on July 30, lot 56540.
The 1986-87 Fleer series consists of 132 cards and 11 stickers. On July 30 in the same sale as above, a complete set fully graded 10 by PSA is estimated $ 200K, lot 56545.
For retail, Fleer offered packs of 12 random-inserted cards and one sticker, not to forget the bubble gum. For wholesale, Fleer assembled boxes of 36 packs and cases of 12 boxes. In the same next sale by Heritage, a box whose content has been reconstituted with 36 unopened packs is estimated $ 80K, lot 56605. The list of stickers is identified in the catalog.
On August 6 online, Collect Auctions sells as lot 31 a factory sealed case. The lot therefore contains 5,184 cards and 432 stickers which have not been handled after their packaging. Statistically, bidders can thus hope to find therein in as new condition 39 cards and 39 stickers of the Jordan rookie. The bidding exceeded $ 1M on the first day (July 13) and continues to increase.
RESULTS including premium
Collect Auctions (case) : SOLD for $ 1.8M
Heritage : SOLD for $ 216K (complete set), $ 90K (box), $ 75K (Jordan card)
Because of this hiatus, many young players had not yet had a regular trading card and their 1986 Fleer is considered by collectors as their rookie card. They include Michael Jordan who had begun his NBA career in 1984.
In 2020 Jordan's glory is at its peak, driven by the success of the television documentary series named The Last Dance. Collectors are flocking to his rookie card, although it is not uncommon including about 300 cards graded Gem Mint.
A card graded Gem Mint 10 by PSA was sold for $ 96K including premium by Heritage on May 8, 2020, breaking by far the previous record set 19 days earlier by the same auction house. Another copy of the same grade will be sold online by Heritage on July 30, lot 56540.
The 1986-87 Fleer series consists of 132 cards and 11 stickers. On July 30 in the same sale as above, a complete set fully graded 10 by PSA is estimated $ 200K, lot 56545.
For retail, Fleer offered packs of 12 random-inserted cards and one sticker, not to forget the bubble gum. For wholesale, Fleer assembled boxes of 36 packs and cases of 12 boxes. In the same next sale by Heritage, a box whose content has been reconstituted with 36 unopened packs is estimated $ 80K, lot 56605. The list of stickers is identified in the catalog.
On August 6 online, Collect Auctions sells as lot 31 a factory sealed case. The lot therefore contains 5,184 cards and 432 stickers which have not been handled after their packaging. Statistically, bidders can thus hope to find therein in as new condition 39 cards and 39 stickers of the Jordan rookie. The bidding exceeded $ 1M on the first day (July 13) and continues to increase.
RESULTS including premium
Collect Auctions (case) : SOLD for $ 1.8M
Heritage : SOLD for $ 216K (complete set), $ 90K (box), $ 75K (Jordan card)
1986 Fleer Jordan
2020 SOLD for $ 420K including premium by Heritage
Link to catalogue.
1985 Fleer Set
2020 SOLD for $ 216K including premium by Heritage
Narrated above.
2003 Investment in Basketball
2020 SOLD for $ 1.85M including premium
Sports card collectors have not stopped loving the old glories. The most sought-after items are rarities in their own series, like the T206 Wagner or the 1952 Topps of Mickey Mantle. The cards kept in the best condition have been attracting investors for a few years.
Modern editors like Upper Deck and Topps add goodies that allow them to offer limited editions with a separate serialization. They may include the integration in the card of an element from another category of collectibles, such as the autograph signature of the player or a piece of his jersey. There can also be only a tiny difference in the design of the card.
The new collector-investor will want to constitute for a model of his choice a complete set of all the variants, and in the best possible condition.
Basketball has joined baseball as America's favorite sport. In 2003 Upper Deck launched its Exquisite Collection trademark without forgetting an Exquisite Rookie Patch identification for the rookies. The front side includes a photo of the player, his signature, the piece of his jersey and the serial number in the specific variant. The back includes another photo, Upper Deck's guarantee of authenticity of signature and jersey, and the NBA logo.
2003-2004 is also the rookie season of LeBron James. His Exquisite Rookie Patch is the high end of all basketball cards, especially since Upper Deck had overtaken Topps and Fleer by obtaining the exclusivity of his autograph on a card for that season.
The basic version of LeBron James' Exquisite Rookie Patch was edited in 99 copies. The card 05/99, graded Mint 9 by BGS, was sold for $ 264K including premium by Heritage on February 22, 2020.
A very similar variant identified as Rookie Patch Parallel is rarer with only 23 copies. The card 16/23, graded NM/MT+ 8.5 by BGS, was sold for $ 264K including premium by Goldin in October 2019.
The card 14/23, graded Gem Mint 9.5 by BGS, is the highest graded in the group. It is listed as lot 12 in the online sale by Goldin which will end on July 18. 23 days before closing, the highest bid is at $ 750K.
With another photo of the player and no piece of jersey, the unique card 1/1 Upper Deck Ultimate Collection of James in his rookie year, graded Mint 9 by PSA, was sold for $ 312K by Goldin in 2016.
Modern editors like Upper Deck and Topps add goodies that allow them to offer limited editions with a separate serialization. They may include the integration in the card of an element from another category of collectibles, such as the autograph signature of the player or a piece of his jersey. There can also be only a tiny difference in the design of the card.
The new collector-investor will want to constitute for a model of his choice a complete set of all the variants, and in the best possible condition.
Basketball has joined baseball as America's favorite sport. In 2003 Upper Deck launched its Exquisite Collection trademark without forgetting an Exquisite Rookie Patch identification for the rookies. The front side includes a photo of the player, his signature, the piece of his jersey and the serial number in the specific variant. The back includes another photo, Upper Deck's guarantee of authenticity of signature and jersey, and the NBA logo.
2003-2004 is also the rookie season of LeBron James. His Exquisite Rookie Patch is the high end of all basketball cards, especially since Upper Deck had overtaken Topps and Fleer by obtaining the exclusivity of his autograph on a card for that season.
The basic version of LeBron James' Exquisite Rookie Patch was edited in 99 copies. The card 05/99, graded Mint 9 by BGS, was sold for $ 264K including premium by Heritage on February 22, 2020.
A very similar variant identified as Rookie Patch Parallel is rarer with only 23 copies. The card 16/23, graded NM/MT+ 8.5 by BGS, was sold for $ 264K including premium by Goldin in October 2019.
The card 14/23, graded Gem Mint 9.5 by BGS, is the highest graded in the group. It is listed as lot 12 in the online sale by Goldin which will end on July 18. 23 days before closing, the highest bid is at $ 750K.
With another photo of the player and no piece of jersey, the unique card 1/1 Upper Deck Ultimate Collection of James in his rookie year, graded Mint 9 by PSA, was sold for $ 312K by Goldin in 2016.
2003 RPA or RPP
2020 SOLD for $ 1.1M including premium
The interest of bidders in contemporary trading cards is altogether new, intense and lasting. The characteristics of this new market are not yet stabilized.
The two highest priced cards are LeBron James' Upper Deck Exquisite Collection 2003-04 and Mike Trout's 2009 Topps Refractor. They have some common features. They relate to players in their rookie year. Both champions are active. The cards are from prestige editions with variants, the production run of the variant is identified and each card is serialized. They have one notable difference : they do not concern the same sport.
The Upper Deck Exquisite is composite, with the player's photo, his autograph signature and a small piece of his jersey. The two variants RPA (Rookie Patch Autograph) and RPP (Rookie Patch Parallel) are differentiated by the position of the piece of fabric. The RPA is edited in 99 copies and the RPP in 23 copies.
In comparable condition, collectors and investors will prefer the more limited series. The LeBron James RPP 14/23 rookie card which was sold for $ 1.85M including premium on July 18, 2020 by Goldin is rated Gem Mint 9.5 by BGS. The rating breakdown is provided by BGS : Centering: 9.5, Corners: 9, Edges: 9.5, Surface: 9.5.
Goldin's online sale to close on August 22 includes two examples of the same card.
The RPP 16/23 is graded NM/MT 8.5+ by BGS because of edges graded at 8, compensated by an excellent centering at 9.5. It was sold for $ 264K including premium by Goldin in October 2019, lot 241. Listed as lot 20 in the next sale, it has already far exceeded its price from last year.
Less than two weeks before the closing of the sale, the bidders prefer the RPA 02/99, listed as lot 3. It is graded Gem Mint 9.5 by BGS with details as follows : Centering: 9.5, Corners: 9, Edges: 9.5, Surface: 10.
All of the above examples have perfect autograph signatures, graded 10 by BGS.
RESULTS including premium
Lot 3 : SOLD for $ 1.1M
Lot 20 : SOLD for $ 550K
The two highest priced cards are LeBron James' Upper Deck Exquisite Collection 2003-04 and Mike Trout's 2009 Topps Refractor. They have some common features. They relate to players in their rookie year. Both champions are active. The cards are from prestige editions with variants, the production run of the variant is identified and each card is serialized. They have one notable difference : they do not concern the same sport.
The Upper Deck Exquisite is composite, with the player's photo, his autograph signature and a small piece of his jersey. The two variants RPA (Rookie Patch Autograph) and RPP (Rookie Patch Parallel) are differentiated by the position of the piece of fabric. The RPA is edited in 99 copies and the RPP in 23 copies.
In comparable condition, collectors and investors will prefer the more limited series. The LeBron James RPP 14/23 rookie card which was sold for $ 1.85M including premium on July 18, 2020 by Goldin is rated Gem Mint 9.5 by BGS. The rating breakdown is provided by BGS : Centering: 9.5, Corners: 9, Edges: 9.5, Surface: 9.5.
Goldin's online sale to close on August 22 includes two examples of the same card.
The RPP 16/23 is graded NM/MT 8.5+ by BGS because of edges graded at 8, compensated by an excellent centering at 9.5. It was sold for $ 264K including premium by Goldin in October 2019, lot 241. Listed as lot 20 in the next sale, it has already far exceeded its price from last year.
Less than two weeks before the closing of the sale, the bidders prefer the RPA 02/99, listed as lot 3. It is graded Gem Mint 9.5 by BGS with details as follows : Centering: 9.5, Corners: 9, Edges: 9.5, Surface: 10.
All of the above examples have perfect autograph signatures, graded 10 by BGS.
RESULTS including premium
Lot 3 : SOLD for $ 1.1M
Lot 20 : SOLD for $ 550K
2003 The Rookie Patch of LeBron James
2020 SOLD for $ 264K including premium
Founded in 1988, the Upper Deck Company integrate goodies into their trading cards of sports and entertainment, such as the autograph signature from 1990, small pieces of game worn jersey from 1991, strands of hair from 2008.
Their high-end concept Exquisite Collection starts with basketball in the 2003-04 season. For $ 500, the collector buys a box that contains three packs of five cards each. The purchase is blind : it is not possible to know the list of views before unsealing the packaging.
This 2003-04 series consists of 42 cards of veterans and 36 cards of rookies from the NBA. Each pack includes a rookie card, titled Exquisite Rookie Patch. The rookie card has been prepared in 99 serialized copies and includes the player's photo, a patch from his jersey and his autograph signature. The back is a certificate of authenticity of the autograph signature and of the jersey.
Luckily for collectors, this 2003-04 season is also the rookie year of LeBron James, already famous for his precociousness and who will become one of the best basketball players of all time.
An unopened box, the contents of which were therefore unknown during the sale, was sold for $ 66K including premium by Heritage in July 2018.
A Rookie Patch of LeBron James, graded by Beckett NM/MT+ 8.5 for the card and 10 for the autograph, was sold for $ 264K including premium by Goldin in October 2019. Another copy is listed by Heritage in an online sale which ends on February 22, lot 50022. It is graded Mint 9 for the card and 10 for the autograph, also by Beckett. On these two examples the centering, subgraded 9.5, is almost perfect.
Their high-end concept Exquisite Collection starts with basketball in the 2003-04 season. For $ 500, the collector buys a box that contains three packs of five cards each. The purchase is blind : it is not possible to know the list of views before unsealing the packaging.
This 2003-04 series consists of 42 cards of veterans and 36 cards of rookies from the NBA. Each pack includes a rookie card, titled Exquisite Rookie Patch. The rookie card has been prepared in 99 serialized copies and includes the player's photo, a patch from his jersey and his autograph signature. The back is a certificate of authenticity of the autograph signature and of the jersey.
Luckily for collectors, this 2003-04 season is also the rookie year of LeBron James, already famous for his precociousness and who will become one of the best basketball players of all time.
An unopened box, the contents of which were therefore unknown during the sale, was sold for $ 66K including premium by Heritage in July 2018.
A Rookie Patch of LeBron James, graded by Beckett NM/MT+ 8.5 for the card and 10 for the autograph, was sold for $ 264K including premium by Goldin in October 2019. Another copy is listed by Heritage in an online sale which ends on February 22, lot 50022. It is graded Mint 9 for the card and 10 for the autograph, also by Beckett. On these two examples the centering, subgraded 9.5, is almost perfect.
2013 The Greek Giant
2020 SOLD for $ 1.85M including premium
Basketball provides exemplary cases that make young people dream of an irresistible social rise.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the most complete players of all time, both in offense and defense. He is helped by his height, 2.11m, and his exceptional span, 2.36m, but this giant nicknamed the Greek Freak is also very athletic and very agile.
He was born stateless to Nigerian parents, in the suburbs of Athens. His official name is a poor transcription when he acquired Greek nationality at his coming of age. His original name is Adetokunbo. He had started his life as an irregular street vendor.
The rules of the drafts of the NBA accept foreigners. Although coming from a lower division Greek club, he was placed 15th in the 1st round in 2013, hired by the Milwaukee Bucks. He made his Bucks debut on October 13, 2013, becoming at under 19 one of the youngest players in NBA history.
The Bucks managed to keep him, with substantial pay increases. His progress is spectacular and puts his team at the top level. On March 17, 2019 he scored 52 points in a single game. On December 16 he had 18 successful goals out of 31 attempted.
Panini has since 2009 the exclusive license of the NBA for the trading cars and stickers. In an online sale that ends on September 20, Goldin sells as lot 1 the National Treasures Horizontal RPA rookie card of Giannis Antetokounmpo edited by Panini for the 2013-14 season. This horizontal card numbered One of One shows on the left a photo of the player, on the right his autograph signature and in the middle the NBA logoman cut out from one of his jerseys. It was graded Mint 9 by BGS.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the most complete players of all time, both in offense and defense. He is helped by his height, 2.11m, and his exceptional span, 2.36m, but this giant nicknamed the Greek Freak is also very athletic and very agile.
He was born stateless to Nigerian parents, in the suburbs of Athens. His official name is a poor transcription when he acquired Greek nationality at his coming of age. His original name is Adetokunbo. He had started his life as an irregular street vendor.
The rules of the drafts of the NBA accept foreigners. Although coming from a lower division Greek club, he was placed 15th in the 1st round in 2013, hired by the Milwaukee Bucks. He made his Bucks debut on October 13, 2013, becoming at under 19 one of the youngest players in NBA history.
The Bucks managed to keep him, with substantial pay increases. His progress is spectacular and puts his team at the top level. On March 17, 2019 he scored 52 points in a single game. On December 16 he had 18 successful goals out of 31 attempted.
Panini has since 2009 the exclusive license of the NBA for the trading cars and stickers. In an online sale that ends on September 20, Goldin sells as lot 1 the National Treasures Horizontal RPA rookie card of Giannis Antetokounmpo edited by Panini for the 2013-14 season. This horizontal card numbered One of One shows on the left a photo of the player, on the right his autograph signature and in the middle the NBA logoman cut out from one of his jerseys. It was graded Mint 9 by BGS.
