History followed LeBron James as he stepped onto the court Monday night and was sewn directly onto his jersey.
The first player in 23 seasons in NBA history to debut the special edition patch, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar marked an unprecedented milestone for the league when the Lakers took on the Sacramento Kings.
“Super cool, super surreal, super humble, blessed,” James said after the game, via Spectrum SportsNet. “I walked in here and saw it for the first time, and it was an exciting moment as well. Thinking about the journey so far, having the opportunity to be here where it all started, obviously at Oracle, but in this city. I just started thinking about getting from the beginning to where we are now. It's been a tough journey, and the people who have followed my career and my fans who have followed my career again, they have the opportunity to be a part of it. Thomas has done a great job in this situation and the NBA, like I said, I'm very grateful and it's super surreal.”
What happened next made the moment even more unique. After each game, the patch worn by James was removed by Topps and turned into a trading card, instantly becoming one of the most coveted collectibles in modern NBA history.
Los Angeles lost to Sacramento, and James' stat line reflected a rare shooting performance from beyond the arc. He scored 22 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists, but missed all five three-pointers.
Even so, the patch represents much more than just one game. Few players in league history have lasted past their 23rd season. Even fewer still maintain elite status.
James has done both while shouldering unprecedented expectations since entering the league as a teenager.
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