The 2021 National Sports Collectors Convention has now ended. This sports convention in Chicago (Rosemont) was incredible to witness and participate in. It was without a doubt the biggest and most packed of the national conventions to date. One trend that stood out handily at the show was that the large auction houses and some of the large industry players absolutely dominated the square footage. They also dominated the number of ultra high-end cards with expected prices of $250,000 or $500,000 or even over $1 million.

Now that sports cards and collectibles of all sorts have become an alternative asset class, what about a potential $20 million price estimate on a unique LeBron James basketball card from 2003?

LeBron James has seen astronomical prices for his low population rookie cards. Still, is $20 million even possible for a modern player who is both still alive and who is still playing the game? The card in question is the 2003 Ultimate Collection LeBron James Ultimate Logos Sig. 1/1 which was featured at the booth for Goldin Auctions. The ultimate price that may be realized remains in the air, but the price being thrown around for the unique Logoman was somewhere close to $20 million for this PSA 9 “Mint” graded card. That could be higher, and it could be lower.

Apparently, any concerns about LeBron’s value dropping after losing in the playoffs have little merit here. And what if the Lakers come roaring back next year?

A 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle graded a perfect PSA 10 was on exhibit around the 2021 MLB All-Star game might be worth $25 million. The card owner has mentioned mega-offerings, but the card has not sold. Despite the age and history of the 1952 Topps Mantle, that card has many examples that sell in auctions each and every month.

What is the most intriguing aspect about the 2003 LeBron James Logoman rookie under question is the 1/1 population. There are no other examples of the exact card hiding in someone’s card binder or in a card box. That means no new examples of the exact card will ever be discovered and submitted to grading agencies. And that means no sudden dilution for the unique nature of the best graded example or any grades under it. This rookie card features the NBA patch and LeBron’s signature on the card.

According to the July 26, 2021 Tweet from @GoldinAuctions ahead of the National, the 2003 Ultimate Collection Lebron James 1 of 1 Logoman is arguably the most valuable card in existence. This is their Tweet with their photo and a live photo has also been included that shows how this card lights up in a mirrored and lit box.

Ken Goldin of Goldin Auctions confirmed on Monday morning:

The 2003 Ultimate Logoman is the most valuable LeBron James card in existence (the most valuable modern card in existence), and along with a PSA 10 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle one of the two or three most valuable cards of all time.

As with all auctions past and present, the ultimate value of any card is really just what a buyer is willing to pay. Some buyers may want the card solely to own the most expensive card. Some will want to own believing the high price is only going to go higher. Other buyers will say it’s overpriced at any price. And the rest of us will just sit around wondering how we could ever amass enough money to ever spend anywhere close to that on a sports card or collectible.

Featured image from Goldin Auctions. These are the two photos we took of the The 2003 Ultimate Collection Lebron James 1 of 1 Logoman at Goldin Auctions’ booth during the National.