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We’re going to be taking a deep dive into the Top 50 most graded cards for some of the most iconic athletes across football, baseball, basketball and hockey.
The numbers are pulled from GemRate.com, and come from the grading services PSA, Beckett, CGC and SGC.
In this post we’ll be taking a look at the Top-50 cards from another player who many consider to be the greatest basketball player ever, LeBron James. If you’re more of a Michael Jordan fan, check out the Top 50 Most Graded Michael Jordan Cards Ever.
Since getting drafted in 2003, James has been dominating the NBA year after year, even right now in his 40s. To date, he’s won four NBA titles and Finals MVPs, four regular season MVPs, is a 21-time All-Star and received 13 All-NBA First-Team Selections and five All-Defensive First-Team selections. On top of all of that, he’s the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and still has a few years left to keep adding to his resume.
Without further ado, let’s get into it: the Top 50 most graded LeBron James cards ever as of June 2025.
1. 2019 Panini Prizm #129 LeBron James – 36,217 Total Grades
2. 2003 Topps #221 LeBron James – 33,750 Total Grades
3. 2018 Panini Revolution #40 LeBron James – 22,449 Total Grades
The first card on our list that we’re going to be taking a better look at is the 2018 Panini Revolution #40 LeBron James card. This card is significant in terms of James collectibles, as it’s the first mainstream NBA product that featured him in a Lakers uniform.
James leaving the Cavaliers to join the Lakers as a free-agent in 2018 sent shockwaves throughout the sports world, but also impacted the trading card hobby. Collectors chased all sorts of LeBron Lakers cards when they first dropped, and the Panini Revolution card was a relatively cheap, entry-level option.
Because the Revolution set was easy to find and rip, collectors submitted base cards in bulk to try and get gem mint grades, whether it was to add a James Lakers card to their personal collection or to flip.
All Lakers-era LeBron cards saw a big boom in grading submissions in 2020-2021 after the Lakers won the NBA Championship, especially all of his “debut” cards, and this one was no exception with its 22,449 total grades.
This card sets a good example that in the hobby, “firsts” cards can generate just as much buzz as rookie cards and numbered parallels. This James card sets the tone for the other “non-rookie” cards that became big-time grading targets.
4. 2003 Topps Chrome #111 LeBron James – 20,880 Total Grades
The 2003 Topps Chrome #111 LeBron James card is the chrome card from his rookie season, and has become one of the most iconic basketball cards from the 2000s.
Alongside his 2003 Topps paper card, the chrome edition has risen to the status of a premier James rookie card and has been likened to the Michael Jordan ‘86 Fleer and the Kobe Bryant ‘96 Chrome cards, two of the most influential cards in the history of the hobby.
As one of James’s debut cards, it features him in a classic red Cavaliers jersey putting up a jumper, with a big “Draft Pick #1” banner and Topps Chrome branding in the middle of it.
It has been a big target for grading not only because it’s a rookie card, but also because there was a decent amount of chipping and centering issues with chrome cards at the time, so high grades are rare and desirable. Even raw cards can fetch anywhere from $500 to $900 according to the Ludex app.
With 20,880 total grades, it’s clear that this LeBron card is a top-tier item when it comes to collecting in the 2000s. For collectors, it still sits as one of the safest investments out of all of James’s cards.
5. 2020 Panini Prizm #1 LeBron James – 15,451 Total Grades
The 2020 Panini Prizm #1 LeBron James is a horizontal card that shows James throwing down a reverse dunk, paying homage to Kobe Bryant who executed the exact same move when he was on the Lakers.
Collectors and sports fans viewed this dunk from LeBron as a nod to Kobe and his legacy following his tragic death, making it a monumental crossover moment. The card has widely been referred to as the “Tribute Dunk” card, and it was released around a year after Kobe passed away.
While parallels are expensive, the base card was pretty easy for collectors to pull and get slabbed for cheap, allowing them to bet on long-term demand for a card that is directly referencing two of the greatest basketball players to ever play the game.
This card is a perfect example of how emotional and cultural relevance can fuel grading demand, as it’s beloved by collectors for what it represents, and not its rarity or monetary value. The fact that it was the #1 card and headliner of the set demonstrates James’s dominance and market influence.
As the most important modern NBA set, any Prizm LeBron card will attract all sorts of grading volume. For this card in particular, it hauled in 15,451 total grades, making it the No. 5 most-graded LeBron James card ever.
6. 2019 Panini Mosaic #8 LeBron James – 15,189 Total Grades
7. 2003 Upper Deck Rookie Exclusives #1 LeBron James – 14,934 Total Grades
8. 2019 Panini Mosaic #298 LeBron James – 10,172 Total Grades
9. 2003 Upper Deck MVP #201 LeBron James – 8,427 Total Grades
10. 2003 Bowman Rookies & Stars #123 LeBron James – 8,365 Total Grades
11. 2019 Panini Donruss Optic #60 LeBron James – 8,217 Total Grades
12. 2018 Panini Prizm #6 LeBron James – 7,506 Total Grades
13. 2003 Sports Illustrated For Kids #264 LeBron James – 7,172 Total Grades
This card is known as being one of the first pre-rookie LeBron James cards to be mass-distributed. The 2003 Sports Illustrated For Kids #264 card could be found in an actual magazine issue from May of 2003.
At the time, SI For Kids was a unique source of early cards for up-and-coming athletes, which gave the public their first cardboard look at future stars in an accessible and cheap way. Cards like this one are perforated on all sides and were printed on magazine paper stock, and they even needed to be hand-torn out of the magazine pages, which made them extremely fragile and difficult to receive good grades.
Due to the scarcity of gem mint grades on these cards, the rare ones can sell for upwards of $2,000, according to past eBay sales, leading to a significant grading volume as collectors strive to find one in perfect condition.
Cards that can be found in SI For Kids magazines like the 2003 LeBron James #264 card help show that condition challenges and the scarcity of gem mints can make even the “low-end” paper and cardboard cards elite collectibles.
Over 7,000 people have tried submitting their magazine cutout 2003 Sports Illustrated For Kids #264 LeBron James cards to be graded. The card is historically significant and one of the symbols for the beginning of James’s career.
14. 2003 Upper Deck Redemption Special LeBron James – 6,223 Total Grades
15. 2004 Topps #23 LeBron James – 5,650 Total Grades
16. 2024 Topps Now Olympic Games #26 LeBron James (with Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry) – 5,613 Total Grades
A commemorative card that celebrates the United States of America men’s basketball team winning the gold medal in the 2024 Olympic Games in Tokyo, the 2024 Topps Now Olympic Games #26 card has become instantly recognizable since its release.
The card is unique because it not only features LeBron James, but also Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry, all on the same card. While cards that feature three different athletes at once are rare to begin with, the fact that this one has three future Hall-of-Famers makes it all-the-more rare.
Topps Now is a trading card series by Topps that focuses on capturing major events in sports and entertainment right as they’re unfolding, rather than the typical protocol of cards releasing much later than the time they’re set in. With the USA securing a gold medal and the entire world being transfixed by Olympic basketball, this card was in high demand at the time.
When there’s multiple basketball legends featured on one card, it’s safe to say that it will draw in a lot of grading volume. The same could be said for this card, as it ended up getting submitted for grading 5,613 times. Of that number, more than 50% of those cards have gemmed, a true testament to the excellent quality control of recent Topps Now releases.
Even though this isn’t a card that’s exclusive to LeBron James, it’s still one of his most graded cards and it has emerged into being an absolute fan favorite for collectors, and just basketball fans in general.
17. 2008 Topps #23 LeBron James – 4,634 Total Grades
18. 2003 Fleer Tradition #261 LeBron James – 4,351 Total Grades
19. 2018 Panini Donruss Optic #94 LeBron James – 4,263 Total Grades
20. 2003 Bowman #123 LeBron James – 3,507 Total Grades
21. 2003 Bowman Chrome #123 LeBron James – 3,506 Total Grades
22. 2023 Topps Now #LJ-40K LeBron James – 3,120 Total Grades
The second Topps Now card on this list is this 2023 Topps Now #LJ-40K card, which was released in celebration of LeBron James becoming the first ever player in NBA history to eclipse the 40,000 points mark in their career.
Issued immediately after James scored his 40,000th point, this card is unique because instead of the traditional game photography format, it features custom artwork done by the artist Chuck Styles.
While this card isn’t from the most premium sets like Prizm or Topps Chrome, it still drew in a lot of grading volume due to its significance to James’s career. This once-in-a-generation milestone is unlikely to be matched anytime soon, so that adds to its allure and value.
Like many Topps Now cards, this one was made available for only a few days, which led to consumer urgency and a large raw print run. Because of this, lots of collectors submitted their copies for grading soon after release, and the total number inflated to over 3,000 total grades.
Career achievement cards like this one may continue to emerge as major factors in grading trends, especially for legends of the game on the tail-ends of their career, like LeBron.
23. 2004 SkyBox USA Basketball #USAB LeBron James – 2,961 Total Grades
24. 2012 Panini Prizm #1 LeBron James – 2,922 Total Grades
From the debut 2012-13 Panini Prizm set comes the 2012 Panini Prizm #1 LeBron James card, the first ever LeBron Prizm card. Even though this isn’t a rookie card, it starts a new chapter for James collectibles along with the emergence of the Prizm set.
This card was the headliner for the birth of a set that would become the modern era’s most dominant chrome-based basketball brand, as Prizm would grow into the role that was once held by Topps Chrome in the basketball world. The #1 card designation, along with the historical implications of Prizm’s early beginnings, elevates the value of this James card.
When this card was released, James was coming off of a dominant season where he took home the MVP award and won his first NBA championship. This made the 2012 Prizm #1 a key milestone in James’s career, as he was turning the corner from “best player without a ring,” and ascending to an undisputed all-time great.
While it might not have been popular right out of the gates, once Prizm started exploding in popularity in the late 2010s and early 2020s, collectors started circling back and grading early-generation Prizm cards like this one.
The card is sitting at 2,922 total grades across the four major grading sites, as it was part of a perfect storm of hype and recognition.
25. 2003 Upper Deck Top Prospects #3 LeBron James – 2,915 Total Grades
26. 2003 Upper Deck Victory #101 LeBron James – 2,793 Total Grades
27. 2003 Upper Deck Top Prospects #60 LeBron James – 2,785 Total Grades
28. 2003 Upper Deck #301 LeBron James – 2,757 Total Grades
29. 2019 Panini Mosaic Jam Masters #16 LeBron James – 2,590 Total Grades
30. 2003 Fleer Tradition #300 LeBron James – 2,498 Total Grades
31. 2019 Panini Select #47 LeBron James – 2,389 Total Grades
32. 2003 Topps Bazooka #276 LeBron James – 2,362 Total Grades
The 2003 Topps Bazooka #276 LeBron James card is one of the more affordable and accessible true rookie cards from James’s debut season.
Released as a part of the 2003-04 Topps Bazooka set, this card was part of a set that was geared towards younger collectors with its comic book-style artwork and playful card backs. It features James alongside a cartoon drawing of Bazooka Joe, with some cartoon Cavalier teammates in the background.
These cards were produced in big quantities, but few were preserved in perfect condition because they were handled by less-conscious collectors and made of soft paper stock. If you’re able to gem one of these cards, it can be resold for anywhere from $650 to $900.
Not all most graded cards are high-end and flashy, as can be seen with this card. With 2,362 total grades, the 2003 Topps Bazooka #276 card is a good example that grading volume comes to cards that are accessible and nostalgic while remaining historically significant.
The 2003 Bazooka #276 card helps educate collectors that even lower-end rookie cards for all-time greats like LeBron James can carry major long-term value and interest when properly cared for.
33. 2016 Panini Donruss Optic #15 LeBron James – 2,355 Total Grades
34. 2024 Topps Now #1 LeBron James – 2,317 Total Grades
35. 2003 Upper Deck Top Prospects #55 LeBron James – 2,304 Total Grades
36. 2017 Panini Prizm #191 LeBron James – 2,125 Total Grades
37. 2006 Topps #123 LeBron James – 2,120 Total Grades
38. 2019 Panini Prizm NBA Finalists #3 LeBron James – 2,100 Total Grades
39. 2002 SAGE Pangos #1 LeBron James – 2,083 Total Grades
40. 2019 Panini Hoops Premium Stock #87 LeBron James – 2,075 Total Grades
41. 2003 Upper Deck City Heights LeBron James #NNO – 1,918 Total Grades
The 2003 Upper Deck City Heights LeBron James card is one of the more unique cards that we’ve covered in this list.
This card was a rookie-year insert that was available exclusively as a box topper, included in sealed Upper Deck packs as an oversized bonus card, which lent it some hype as it had limited availability.
Despite not being an official rookie card because it’s an insert and isn’t numbered, the card was released during James’s rookie campaign and features him in his year one Cavaliers uniform, leading the collecting community to treat it as a respected member of the “rookie card family.”
2003-issued LeBron cards always have hype and grading volume swirling around them, even if they’re more of an oddball card like this one. As of right now, 1,918 total grades have been given out for this card.
The 2003 Upper Deck City Heights LeBron James card has developed into being a solid sleeper card amongst collectors, and it reinforced the idea that if it’s from a legend’s rookie year, it will have demand.
42. 2008 Topps Chrome #23 LeBron James – 1,912 Total Grades
The 2008 Topps Chrome #23 LeBron James card features James going through his iconic pre-game ritual, tossing chalk into the air in front of the scorer’s table.
Its horizontal layout is unusual for Topps Chrome base cards which, alongside the striking design and photograph, makes it instantly stand out from all the other typical vertical cards. Also, it’s numbered as the 23rd card in the set, the same number that’s front and center on James’s jersey in the photo.
The card was released during James’s last season during his first stint with the Cavaliers in 2008-2009, making it a visual representation of part of the star’s historic career. It’s also part of the last Topps Chrome Basketball set from that era before Topps started producing it again in 2023, giving it added weight and value, especially for collectors who appreciate that era of the hobby.
When 2000s nostalgia hit the hobby during the late 2010s and early 2020s surge in popularity, lots of collectors submitted this card to be graded, presumably for its design and historical significance. It has been sent in for grading approximately 1,912 times.
As LeBron’s last Chrome card, this card is an example of how even when certain cards might not feel super valuable upon their release, grading trends can still favor them later down the road due to their iconic and historic feel.
43. 2019 Panini Donruss Optic My House! #13 LeBron James – 1,799 Total Grades
44. 2003 Upper Deck Top Prospects LeBron James Promos #P3 – 1,711 Total Grades
T-45. 2005 Topps #200 LeBron James – 1,709 Total Grades
T-45. 2019 Panini Chronicles #162 LeBron James – 1,709 Total Grades
47. 2003 Bazooka Comics #15 LeBron James – 1,625 Total Grades
48. 2003 Upper Deck Top Prospects LeBron James Promos #P1 – 1,595 Total Grades
49. 2003 Ultra Hummer H2 #171 LeBron James – 1,590 Total Grades
50. 2013 Panini Prizm #65 LeBron James – 1,571 Total Grades
That concludes our Top 50 list of the most graded LeBron James cards of all time, a look at some of the most iconic cards for one of the greatest basketball players ever.
For more content on the best cards for some of the most impactful athletes ever, make sure you keep an eye out for more posts on the Ludex blog.
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