Rare LeBron James trading card brings $2.56m at auction

A rare trading card of National Basketball Association (NBA) great LeBron James' 2003-04 rookie campaign with the Cleveland Cavaliers fetched US$1.84 million (S$2.56 million) at auction over the weekend, the league has said.

Bidding for the Upper Deck card, signed by the 35-year-old who now plays for Los Angeles Lakers, began at US$150,000 before it became the most expensive basketball card purchased in the modern era - those produced in 1980 or later.

"Only 23 versions of the Patch Autograph Parallel collection for James were ever produced. The rare card received a 9.5 mint gem grading from Beckett grading service," the NBA said.

"Numbered 14 of 23, the card attracted 34 bids over the course of the 26-day auction."

Darren Rovell of sports media company Action Network said the winning bidder was Leore Avidar, the CEO and co-founder of a San Francisco-based company.

James is a three-time NBA champion (2012, 2013, 2016) and two-time Olympic gold medallist (2008, 2012).

He has won the NBA's Most Valuable Player award four times.

In May, Michael Jordan's autographed game-worn sneakers from his rookie season fetched US$560,000 in an online auction.