LeBron James, the NBA legend and billionaire father of up-and-coming Los Angeles Lakers prospect Bronny James, is facing accusations of artificially inflating the price of his son’s Summer League jersey at a recent auction. As Bronny prepares for his highly anticipated NBA debut in the 2024/25 season, the jersey sold for a staggering $38,500—sparking speculation and controversy.
The bidding price for the jersey, which Bronny wore during a Summer League game where he scored only four points (2-9 FG), far exceeded initial expectations. Experts had originally estimated the auction value to fall between $6,000 and $10,000. The dramatic increase led to allegations that LeBron may have personally purchased the jersey, as noted by analysts on the No Dunks podcast.
“This jersey was supposed to go for much less,” said J.E. Skeets during the podcast. “To see it fetch $38,000 is quite something, especially given the game’s context.” His co-host, Trey Kerby, added humor to the situation by suggesting the jersey might find its way into LeBron’s personal collection, joking, “This will look sweet in LeBron’s man cave.”
Critics argue that by allegedly driving up the auction price, LeBron may be boosting his son’s value and marketability ahead of his NBA debut, potentially attracting stronger endorsements and sponsorships. The price of Bronny’s jersey starkly contrasts that of other players, including Atlanta Hawks’ first pick Zacharie Risacher, whose Summer League jersey sold for just $3,360.
Though $38,500 may seem excessive, it is still far from record-breaking in the NBA auction scene. For instance, Michael Jordan’s 1998 NBA Finals jersey went for nearly $10.1 million, while San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama’s debut jersey sold for $7.62 million.
Bronny, drafted in the second round as the 55th overall pick, will have the chance to prove his worth on the court when he and his father take on the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Los Angeles Lakers’ season opener on October 22 at the Crypto.com Arena. The game is expected to draw significant attention as the father-son duo makes history.
