LeBron James Debuts Historic Jersey Patch for Record-Setting 23rd NBA Season
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James took the court Monday night wearing a new addition to his uniform: a custom jersey patch commemorating his record-setting 23rd season in the NBA.
The patch debuted during the Lakers' matchup against the Sacramento Kings, the same city where James played his first professional game in 2003. James is the first player in league history to reach 23 seasons of play.
The commemorative patch, positioned on the upper right chest, features a silhouette of James’ signature pregame chalk toss. It also includes three colored stripes representing the franchises he has played for throughout his career: the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and Los Angeles Lakers.
James is scheduled to wear a new patch in each of the remaining 46 regular-season games. Following each game, the Lakers’ equipment manager will remove the patch, date it, and ship it to a Topps production facility in Dallas. There, the patches will be authenticated and inserted into physical trading cards.
The initiative follows similar programs launched earlier this season by Topps and the NBA. Other players featured in patch programs include Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning Most Valuable Player; Evan Mobley, the Defensive Player of the Year; and Stephon Castle, the Rookie of the Year. Those players wear a gold NBA logo on the back of their uniforms that is also designated for future trading cards.
At 41 years old, James is currently averaging 21.9 points on 51% shooting, 6.9 assists, and 5.6 rebounds per game. The Lakers currently hold a 23-13 record and sit at No. 5 in the Western Conference.