Photo: LeBron’s Jersey From ’02 SI Cover Hits Auction Block, Could Get $300K+

LeBron James is one of the greatest basketball players to ever play the game, and the best is yet to come. The Lakers star was on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine in 2002, and it looks like the jersey he was wearing at the beginning of his career could hit a big amount of money.

LeBron was a junior at St Vincent-St. Mary HS in Akron, Ohio in ’02. He was the top-ranked player in the class. Sports Illustrated decided to send their writer and photographer to make a story of the future star.

The magazine was released on February 18, 2002. LeBron was 17 at the time. He was wearing a #23 gold mesh jersey titled, “THE CHOSEN ONE.”

LeBron wore the jersey for most of his season. He averaged 30 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists a game. Today, this jersey is on the block at Goldin Auctions.

Ken Goldin believes that the jersey may be sold for $300K, $400K, or even more.

LeBron became the greatest basketball player. He has 3 NBA titles, 3 Finals MVP’s, 4 NBA MVP’s and 15 All-Star nods.

Even the great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar agrees that LeBron is the best.

“He’s already shown he’s still the complete player that the Lakers wanted so I don’t think he needs to worry about that,” Abdul-Jabbar said during a phone interview while attending the grand opening of NBA Experience at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. “They just needed to put the right pieces in place around him. You can’t win a world championship with just one elite player. You need some help and I think he has that now.

“If he plays well and the team is contending and in the playoffs and advancing late in the playoffs, that should be enough,” Abdul-Jabbar added. “He doesn’t have anything to prove to anyone, but Lakers fans are still hungry and that’s a good sign. They want to win and they want to support the team.”

The Lakers are ready for a strong season. LeBron will get some help from Anthony Davis and the rest of the stars on the team.