Two of the most significant game-worn jerseys from two of the greatest NBA players of the modern era will headline Sotheby’s Summer Sports Classics auction, which begins Wednesday.
In Steph Curry’s second NBA game on Oct. 30, 2009, he drained his first-ever 3-pointer. At the time, nobody could have known he would go on to become the all-time leader in 3-pointers made and arguably the greatest shooter who ever lived.
His jersey from that night, which Sotheby’s has estimated to sell for more than $1 million, will almost certainly set an all-time record for the Warriors sharpshooter.
The jersey from his NBA debut has never sold publicly, making this the earliest Curry gamer to reach the auction block. It was originally sold via MeiGray to the current consignor.
The jersey was worn in 25 games during his rookie season, making it likely the most heavily worn Curry jersey to ever hit the auction block.
LeBron James’ jersey from Game 1 of the 2016 NBA Finals is another highlight of the auction, carrying a pre-sale estimate of $800,000 to $1.2 million.
It is the first time one of James’ 2016 NBA Finals jerseys has been offered publicly since the NBA originally sold them in 2016 (his Game 1 jersey originally fetched $52,592, according to Sports Collectors Daily).
Sotheby’s 2023 sale of James' game-worn Heat jersey from Game 7 of the 2013 NBA Finals, which fetched $3.68 million, currently holds the record for the most expensive James jersey ever sold.
Also slated to hit the auction block is the earliest known photo-matched Lionel Messi shirt, worn when he was a 19-year-old phenom in the second half of El Clasico in 2006 and swapped with Real Madrid’s Guti after the game (later gifted to a friend). It carries a pre-sale estimate of $100,000 to $150,000.
Serena Williams’ game-used match point tennis ball from the 2013 U.S. Open championship final — the first such ball to ever appear at public auction —carries a pre-sale estimate of $30,000 to $50,000 and could become the most expensive tennis ball ever sold.
Will Stern is a reporter and editor for cllct, the premier company for collectible culture.