NBA game-worn jerseys and memorabilia are now being offered through Sotheby’s.
The league and the auction house announced a multiyear partnership deal on Tuesday, giving player-worn items a large, international platform.
The new deal has already kicked off, with Sotheby’s/NBA Auctions offering more than 60 game-worn jerseys, including those worn by Victor Wembanyama and Scoot Henderson in their first regular season games and jerseys from star players both this year and in previous seasons.
Highlights from the auction will be publicly available at Sotheby’s New York Headquarters November 14-21, with bidding open through November 21.
In all, nine auctions are currently planned, with the partnership focused on specific NBA games and events, rather than team-by-team auctions.
MeiGray will continue to provide authentication services for the league’s game-used items.
Bidding for the Wembanyama jersey had reached $70,000 by early Tuesday evening.
“The NBA is one of the most iconic and beloved sports leagues globally, and its game-worn memorabilia have captured the hearts of fans and collectors worldwide,” stated Brahm Wachter, Head of Modern Collectibles, Sotheby’s. “Our journey in the sports memorabilia world aligns with our broader mission of expanding access to and ownership of extraordinary objects with exceptional provenance. We look forward to providing a platform that enables fans and collectors to own a piece of NBA history with unparalleled level of trust and assurance.”
“We look forward to leveraging Sotheby’s expertise in art and luxury as we offer collectors and fans a seamless experience to access the best of NBA memorabilia through our marketplace,” remarked Matt Holt, the NBA’s Head of Consumer Products.
Throughout the 2023-24 NBA season, Sotheby’s will host a variety of auctions -mostly online – that feature NBA game-worn jerseys, apparel, and other memorabilia available for purchase only at Sotheby’s. The exclusive products will include items from marquee events, including Christmas Day games, All-Star Weekend, the NBA Finals, the In-Season Tournament, regular season games and more.
The auction house says it plans to have live auction events after the NBA All-Star Game and Finals. Auction bidders will also be invited to special events held by Sotheby’s.
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