For nearly two decades, a prized LeBron James 2003-04 Exquisite Collection Basketball Rookie Patch Autograph Parallel #08/23 remained tucked away in a safety deposit box. Acquired in November 2004 for just under $3,000 on eBay, the consignor had the foresight to keep it secure until the 20th anniversary of the product’s release. The Upper Deck Exquisite Collection, launched on June 4, 2004, is widely regarded as one of the most important basketball card products ever released, featuring an exceptional rookie class that included LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Carmelo Anthony.
LeBron’s rookie card from this set, particularly the #78 RPA (Rookie Patch Autograph), is considered iconic. Available in two versions—the /99 Level 1 and a scarce parallel numbered to his jersey number 23—this card is extraordinarily limited, with only 23 copies in existence. Since July 2020, only one other card from this series has been graded by Beckett.
The specific card in this auction, graded BGS NM+ 7.5 with an Auto grade of 10, features sub-grades of Centering 9.5, Edges 7.5, Corners 7, and Surface 7.5. Its perfect, bold autograph is rendered in blue against a white background, complemented by a two-color swatch. The card’s “hobby fresh” allure and its significance in the basketball card community contributed to its impressive final bid of $351,029.
Another standout in the auction was a 2003 Topps Chrome #111 LeBron James rookie card, featuring a black refractor variant. LeBron’s 2003 Topps Chrome rookie cards are among the most iconic in NBA history, noted for their limited print runs and various refractor versions, including the unnumbered refractor, black refractor (/500), X-Fractor (/220), and gold refractor (/50).
The black refractor card in this auction, graded PSA GEM MINT 10, is particularly rare, with only 21 copies (4% of the print run) achieving this grade according to the PSA population report. The black borders of the card make any imperfections more noticeable, contributing to the difficulty in obtaining a perfect grade. This specific card, numbered 326 out of 500, is a key piece for any high-end LeBron James or NBA collector’s collection and fetched a final price of $126,725.
These impressive sales at the Leland’s Summer Classic Auction highlight the enduring legacy and value of LeBron James’ rookie cards in the world of sports memorabilia.
