LeBron James, the basketball legend, has made headlines once again with his latest move in the world of collectibles. The NBA superstar has recently signed an exclusive multi-year trading card partnership with Fanatics Collectibles, a division of the popular sports merchandise company Fanatics. This new deal not only marks the beginning of a new era in collectibles but also signifies the end of LeBron’s long-standing relationship with Upper Deck.
In a statement released by Fanatics, LeBron expressed his excitement for this new partnership. He emphasized his desire to share more moments with his fans and to celebrate the achievements of athletes at their peak. LeBron believes that it is important to recognize both the significant and subtle milestones in sports, and this partnership with Fanatics will allow him to do just that.
To commemorate this exciting collaboration, Fanatics will be releasing a special trading card featuring LeBron and his son, Bronny James. This exclusive card will be part of the highly anticipated 2023-24 Bowman University Chrome Basketball set, which is set to be released on January 19. The LeBron and Bronny card will be a 1/1 on-card dual autograph, showcasing LeBron in his St. Vincent-St. Mary’s high school uniform and Bronny in his USC Trojans jersey. Alongside this remarkable duo, the set will also feature other notable names in basketball, such as women’s college basketball All-Americans Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers.
The CEO of Fanatics Collectibles, Mike Mahan, shared his enthusiasm for having LeBron James join the Fanatics family. Mahan aims to expand the boundaries of the collectibles hobby and foster fan and collector enthusiasm. In addition to LeBron’s signing, Fanatics is promoting the card release with a unique video titled “Origin of Greatness.” This captivating video, narrated by LeBron himself, highlights the early moments of various Fanatics athlete partners, adding an extra layer of excitement to the anticipation surrounding the trading card set.
LeBron’s partnership with Fanatics is a significant addition to the company, following a more than two-decade association between LeBron and Upper Deck. Upper Deck, a well-known name in the trading card industry, acknowledged their long-standing collaboration with LeBron. They recognized their efforts in building his brand into a highly valuable collectible and their work with the LeBron James Family Foundation. Upper Deck expressed gratitude for having had LeBron as a part of their family and wished him well in his future endeavors with Fanatics.
As LeBron embarks on this new chapter in his collectibles journey, the sports world eagerly awaits the release of the special trading card featuring him and his son. Fans and collectors alike are excited to see what the future holds for LeBron James and his partnership with Fanatics, as they usher in a new era in the world of trading cards and collectibles.
