{"id":139316,"date":"2025-11-05T07:10:38","date_gmt":"2025-11-05T12:10:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ripped.topps.com\/?p=139316"},"modified":"2025-11-05T07:10:44","modified_gmt":"2025-11-05T12:10:44","slug":"lebron-james-the-hobby","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ripped.topps.com\/uk\/lebron-james-the-hobby\/","title":{"rendered":"LeBron James & The Hobby"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Collecting the King’s Legacy in Cards<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Date:<\/span> Nov 5, 2025<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Length:<\/span> 1058 \tWords<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
Reading Time:<\/span> ~6 Minutes<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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The Kid from Akron who became King James has a legacy that speaks for itself. From generational prodigy to face of the NBA, four-time MVP, and four-time Champion, to all-time leading scorer, Olympic flagbearer, and taking the floor with his son, LeBron James\u2019 career in basketball is unprecedented. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The combination of historic domination and unrivaled longevity has kept LeBron at the top of the sports world \u2014 and the card world \u2014 for over two decades now. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2025-26 Topps Basketball #150 LeBron James<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
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Now, with the recent release of 2025-26 Topps Basketball, LeBron is once again showing the power of a King. From his new batch of Topps autos<\/a> with the Lakers to an array of other fantastic chase cards<\/a>, it\u2019s still the King\u2019s court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s take a look at just some of LeBron\u2019s highlights in The Hobby and some exciting new cards of the King. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Chrome Debut for the Ages<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

More than 20 years later, 2003-04 Topps Chrome\u00ae Basketball remains one of the most important sets in the history of the hardwood Hobby. LeBron James, the consensus top overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft, is a massive reason why. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2003 Topps Chrome Basketball #11 LeBron James RC Refractor<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
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Alongside the likes of Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, and Chris Bosh, LeBron headlined an absolutely loaded rookie class. James\u2019 2003 Topps Chrome RC is among his most iconic and valuable cards. The Gold Refractor version of the card, limited to only 50 copies, has sold for as much as $1.2 million<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2003 Topps Basketball #221 LeBron James RC<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
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Then there\u2019s this gem from 2003 Topps Basketball, showing James in his fashionable draft night outfit holding the jersey he would make famous. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In a display of LeBron\u2019s mind-boggling longevity, two decades later, Topps Released a Time Machine Autograph Variation SuperFractor <\/a>LeBron James card, with James once again back in a brilliant white suit. This time, though, instead of his rookie jersey, he\u2019s holding a piece of paper announcing his 40,000th scored point as an NBA player. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read more about the story of a card 20 years in the making here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2008: The Hits Keep Coming<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In 2008-09, James won his first of four MVP\u2019s in a five-year stretch, helping to establish him as the defining player of his era. Again, Topps met the moment with a LeBron card featuring one of the greatest card images ever of a superstar coming into his prime. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2008 Topps Basketball #23 LeBron James<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
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James\u2019 2008-09 Topps Basketball entry, known to some as \u2018The Chalk Toss Card\u2019 is often cited as a collector favorite. Capturing LeBron in his iconic pregame routine, King James looks larger than life, the deserved center-of-attention under the lights before tipoff. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2008 Topps Chrome Basketball #24 Kobe Bryant X-Fractor \/288<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
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It was during these years that the “LeBron or Kobe” debate raged around the basketball world. The pair were even portrayed in a famous run of Nike ads, with puppets of LeBron and Kobe engaging in some good-natured banter. Topps Chrome stepped up as well, with this phenomenal 2008-09 Topps Chrome Kobe Bryant that shows the Lakers legend being guarded by the young MVP coming for his crown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LeBron in Paris<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Today, James remains one of the most important players in the entire Hobby, and in terms of basketball, he only trails Michael Jordan on Card Ladder\u2019s total market cap stat column. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2024 Topps NOW Olympics Card #4 LeBron James<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
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Recent James cards from Topps include a selection of Topps NOW\u00ae cards released in commemoration of his historic selection as the U.S. Olympic Team flagbearer alongside tennis sensation Coco Gauff. A triple card featuring the old guard of NBA superstars \u2014 James, Steph Curry, and Kevin Durant \u2014 became one of the hottest cards from the 2024 Paris Olympics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2024 Topps NOW Olympics Card #26 Orange Stephen Curry<\/a> \/ LeBron James \/ Kevin Durant<\/a> \/5<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
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LeBron James Topps Cards to Collect<\/a><\/blockquote>