BUZZ BEAT MEDIA

Julien’s Auctions’ premiere auction in Hong Kong – LEGENDS IN MOTION, an all-star event featuring a marquee lineup of items from champions of sports, music and entertainment, is set to take place live 28 September at Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong and online at juliensauctions.com. Adding further to the excitement comes one of the most coveted pieces of sports memorabilia to go under the gavel – LeBron James’ legendary St. Vincent-St. Mary High School jersey (see photo below), famously worn on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 2002 when he was crowned “The Chosen One”, at the age of 17. 

This jersey worn by arguably the greatest basketball player of all-time initially sold in 2021 at Julien’s Auctions for over half a million dollars and set a new world record for a high school basketball jersey sold at auction. Described as “a holy grail of LeBron James memorabilia,” this historic piece has an estimate of US$1-2 million (HK$7,800,000-15,600,000) and is expected to make history once again on the auction block next month. 

This photo-matched jersey, worn during LeBron’s first Sports Illustrated shoot on 3 February, 2002, and in a high school basketball game that same evening where LeBron scored 32 points and collected seven rebounds, is a pivotal piece of sports history. It marks the beginning of LeBron’s storied career, as he became the first high school junior to grace a Sports Illustrated cover. The iconic issue, published on 18 February, 2002, and accompanying the jersey in the lot, cemented his status as a rising superstar as he went directly from high school to become the first overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft.  “King James” has won four NBA titles, four league MVP’s, a record 20 All-Star selections, an NBA cup and most recently, his third Olympic gold medal with the U.S. men’s national team at the Paris 2024 Olympics. 

Rare limited-edition photo prints of LeBron James wearing his high school jersey at the shoot taken and signed by renowned Sports Illustrated photographer Michael LeBrecht, who captured the original “The Chosen One” SI cover, will also be offered such as (estimate range each: US$1,000-$2,000/HK$7,800-15,600).

The photo prints include: a limited-edition “St. Vincent St. Mary” photo print numbered “1/5” (photo bottom left); a limited-edition “Chapel” photo print, numbered “1/5”; a limited-edition “The Dunk” photo print, numbered “1/23”; “The Chosen One” photo print, numbered “1/5”; a limited-edition “Silhouette” photo print, numbered “2/10” (photo bottom center); a limited-edition “Prayer” photo print numbered “1/5” (photo bottom right); and a limited-edition “LBJ Scream” photo print, numbered “2/10”.

Michael LeBrecht was interviewed by Julien’s for an exclusive video where the photographer recounts the fateful photo shoot and shares his personal memories of meeting LeBron as a teenager and witnessing his ascent to global stardom. [Click here for the video]

“LeBron James’ famous ‘The Chosen One’ high school basketball jersey and these rare photo prints of him taken during his remarkable Sports Illustrated photo shoot are some of the most emblematic and important pieces of sports and entertainment history,” said David Goodman, CEO of Julien’s Auctions. “This storied jersey represents the pivotal moment of Lebron’s ascension to basketball royalty and is a must have for sports memorabilia collectors, historians and fans.”  
LeBron James’ “The Chosen One” high school jersey and Michael LeBrecht photo collection joins the previously announced “Legends in Motion” auction that features a collection of exceptional memorabilia from the life and film career of Hong Kong-American martial arts legend and global icon Bruce Lee such as significant artifacts from Lee’s most influential films, including Fist of Fury, The Way of the Dragon, and his magnum opus, Enter the Dragon. Items from FIFA and other global icons, including BTS, Taylor Swift, Michael Jackson and a game-worn Kobe Bryant LA Lakers jersey from the 2013-14 NBA season are among the other previously announced highlights that will be offered. Fans and collectors can view LeBron James’ “The Chosen One” jersey and these other exceptional highlights at Pacific Place in Hong Kong from 14-27 September before the auction.

Other sports items include: 

	Kobe Bryant | Game-Worn 2013-14 Los Angeles Lakers Jersey. Bryant wore this jersey during a game against the Charlotte Bobcats at the Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, North Carolina on 14 December, 2013. He had 21 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists in the Lakers’ 88-85 victory over the Bobcats. On the same road trip, Bryant wore the same jersey a second time during a game against the Atlanta Hawks at the Phillips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia on 16 December, 2013 (estimates: US$80,000-100,000/HK$624,000-780,000).
	2018 UEFA Champions League Final Match-Issued Real Madrid Jersey with Winner’s Gold Medal Awarded to a Staff Member. It would be Real Madrid’s 13th European Cup at the time. On the front of the jersey it reads, “Final Kyiv 2018 / NSC Olimpiyskiy – 26 May / Real Madrid CF vs Liverpool FC.” There is a “FIFA World Champions 2017” patch on the top right side of the jersey while the Real Madrid crest is on the top left side of the jersey. On the back of the jersey features the number “7” and “Ronaldo” in turquoise lettering (estimates: US$4,000-6,000/HK$31,200-46,800)
	Lionel Messi | Match-Issued 2022 World Cup Argentina Jersey (SIA). An Adidas brand 2022-23 Argentina away jersey match-issued to Lionel Messi in the 2022 World Cup match against Poland at Stadium 974 in Doha, Qatar on November 30, 2022. Argentina defeated Poland 2-0 in the group C stage. The tournament saw Messi capture his first major trophy with the senior national team. On the chest area reads “Poland / 30 November 2022 / Stadium 974”, while the back of the jersey features “Messi” and the number “10” in silver lettering (estimates: US$4,000-6,000/HK$31,200-46,800)
	Lionel Messi | Personally Owned Commemorative 2021 Copa America Medal Presented By The AFA with Original Presentation Case. The medal hangs on a blue and white stripes ribbon, together with an original presentation case. The 47th Copa America Final was held at Estadio do Maracana in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on July 10, 2021. Argentina defeated the host nation, Brazil, 1-0 (estimates: US$800-1,000/HK$6,240-7,800)
	An Adidas brand Argentina jersey match-worn by Diego Maradona during the 1977-79 international seasons. On the top left side on the front of the jersey features an adhesive AFA Argentina crest patch. On the back side of the jersey features the number “10” in silkscreen (estimates: US$4,000-6,000/HK$31,200-46,800).
	Michael Schumacher | Race-Worn and Signed 1997 Austria Grand Prix Ferrari F1 Helmet. A Bell brand Bieffe aero F1 helmet race-worn during the Austria Grand Prix by Michael Schumacher of Ferrari on September 21, 1997. The helmet was later signed on the back side by Schumacher. Schumacher drew inspiration to attach Bieffe aero parts to his Bell helmet from his Ferrari teammate Eddie Irvine, who wore the BIEFFE helmet, during their races. In the 14th round of the 1997 Formula One World Championship, Schumacher finished in 6th place and was able to earn the last points-paying spot ahead of competitor and Arrows driver Damon Hill (estimates: US$10,000-20,000/HK$78,000-156,000)

PUBLIC EXHIBITION

Pacific Place Level 1 (Near Lane Crawford)

88 Queensway Admiralty, Hong Kong

14 – 27 September, 2024

11:00am-8:00pm

RSVP to skip the line

LIVE AND ONLINE AUCTION 

Legends in Motion

28 September, 2024 (Saturday)

10:00am (HKT)

Island Shangri-La, Supreme Court Road, Admiralty, Hong Kong 

REGISTERING TO BID
Registration is required to bid in this auction and can be done in person on the day of the auction, or online before the sale at Julien’s Auctions.

For inquiries, please email [email protected] or call 1-(310)-836-1818.

PLACING BIDS
There are three ways to bid in Live Auctions:

1. Bid with Julien’s Auctions online.
2. Bid over the telephone through an auction house representative.
3. Bid in person in the room at our auction events.

Julien’s Auctions accepts cryptocurrency payments, including Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, DAI, Ethereum, Litecoin, Dogecoin, and USD Coin. 

*All Photos from Julien’s Auctions