After a four-game sweep, the number of LeBron James jerseys from the 2018 NBA Finals will be a short list, but the one he wore during his finest hour is generating quite a buzz.
James scored a postseason career-high 51 points in Game 1, nearly willing the Cavs to a surprising road win and his jersey from that night is currently at NBA Auctions. Bidding has surpassed $90,000 with more than a week left in the bidding. The black “Statement” jersey carries the Finals logo on the back and is registered into the NBA/MeiGray Game-Worn Jersey Registration Data Base.
With one more bid, the jersey will become the most expensive jersey sold via NBA Auctions this year, passing James’ shirt from the first half of the All-Star Game which sold for $90,102 in March. It could surpass Steph Curry’s Game 3 Finals jersey from 2017, which sold for over $130,000 and ranks as the most expensive jersey ever sold via the NBA Auctions platform.
James’ 51 points at ORACLE Arena were accompanied by a team-high eight assists and eight rebounds. It was his eighth 40-point game during this season’s playoff run and the first time in 25 years that a player had scored 50 or more in a Finals game. He played all but one minute of the game, which the Cavs lost in overtime.
The Cavs had rebounded a missed free throw with a few seconds remaining but instead of attempting a shot, J.R. Smith memorably opted to dribble out to the perimeter, appearing to not realize the Cavs were not leading at the time. Smith’s jersey is also being sold in the auction, along with James’ jersey from Game 2 and others worn by both teams in the first two games of the Finals.