Victor Wembanyama, the French rookie making waves in the NBA, has once again captured the attention of basketball fans and collectors alike. His jersey from his very first regular-season game with the San Antonio Spurs recently sold for an eye-popping $762,000 at a Sotheby’s auction, surpassing initial estimations of $80,000-$120,000.
The bidding frenzy for Wembanyama’s white jersey escalated rapidly, defying expectations and eventually becoming one of the highest prices ever paid for an NBA rookie debut jersey. However, the record for the highest-priced rookie jersey remains with Kobe Bryant, whose game-worn jersey fetched a staggering $3.6 million in 2021.
The jersey in question was worn by the towering 7’4″ Wembanyama during a game against the Dallas Mavericks on October 25. With a total of 62 bids, the auction witnessed a flurry of activity in its final minutes. It’s worth noting that Wembanyama is only 19 years old but has already demonstrated exceptional skills, averaging impressive stats of 18.6 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game this season.
This notable sale comes on the heels of another high-profile auction where a jersey worn by Wembanyama during his NBA Summer League debut sold for a respectable $62,000. Sotheby’s recent partnership with the NBA as the official game-worn jersey partner commenced with this auction, which featured nearly 60 other jerseys and generated a total auction revenue exceeding $1.2 million. The event drew the attention of 176 bidders from 14 different countries.
In contrast to Wembanyama’s headline-stealing jersey, jerseys worn by other renowned NBA players during their season openers fetched more modest amounts. LeBron James’ jersey sold for $50,820, while Damian Lillard’s Milwaukee Bucks jersey brought in $30,480. Jerseys worn by Giannis Antetokounmpo sold for $25,400, reigning MVP Nikola Jokic’s for $17,780, Steph Curry’s for $27,940, and Jayson Tatum’s for $8,890.
Wembanyama’s meteoric rise in the NBA has marked him as one of the most exciting young talents in the league. Fans and collectors eagerly anticipate his future accomplishments and are willing to pay top dollar for a piece of basketball history. With these record-breaking sales, the sky’s the limit for Wembanyama’s burgeoning reputation in the world of basketball and sports memorabilia.