LeBron James to Wear Special 24th-Season Jersey Patch, With Game-Worn Patches Going Into 1/1 Topps Cards
LeBron James is beginning his record-setting 24th NBA season with a new piece of game-worn memorabilia that will eventually make its way into Topps trading cards. Topps and the NBA announced that James will wear a special-edition 24th-season jersey patch throughout the 2026-27 season. After each game, the patch will be removed from his jersey, with select examples later placed into ultra-rare one-of-one Topps trading cards.
James debuted the patch on October 20 in the Philadelphia 76ers vs. New York Knicks game in New York, marking both the start of his 24th NBA season and his Sixers debut. The milestone is unprecedented. According to the NBA, James is the first player in league history to reach 24 seasons, extending the longevity record he already held. That gives the new patch program a direct connection to a specific NBA record rather than simply commemorating another season in his career.
Topps announced the program on social media, writing that the patches will be removed following each game and that “certain patches” will be incorporated into one-of-one trading cards. The company has not yet announced which Topps products will contain the cards, how many game-used patch cards will ultimately be created or how the individual patches will be tied to specific games.
That unanswered game-by-game component could become an important part of the chase. Because a fresh patch will be worn and removed after each game, the program creates a supply of individually game-used pieces from across James’ 24th season. Only some of those patches, however, are currently confirmed to be headed into 1-of-1 cards.
The concept gives collectors a chance to own a physical piece of a season that already carries historical significance. James enters the season as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and with 1,622 career games played, another league record, according to the NBA. His move to Philadelphia also begins a new chapter in a career that previously included stops with Cleveland, Miami and Los Angeles.
The special patch program adds another layer to what is already shaping up to be a major season for LeBron James trading cards. Earlier this year, his first Philadelphia 76ers Topps NOW card generated a print run of 211,627 copies.