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Explaining LeBron James’s Special Patch on Lakers Jersey This Season
Basketball legend and current Lakers forward LeBron James is in the midst of his 23rd season, the most by any player in NBA history, as he looks to help Los Angeles hoist its first Larry O’Brien Trophy since the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign.
To commemorate the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, the league—in conjunction with Topps trading cards—has created a special-edition patch that James will wear on his jersey, beginning on January 12 and throughout the remainder of the season.
But what does it look like? And why now? I’m glad you asked. Here’s a complete explainer on the jersey patch King James will wear for the rest of 2025-26.
LeBron James’ Jersey Patch Explained
Below is a look at the patch James will wear on his jersey for the remainder of the season. It features a silhouette of his signature pregame chalk toss, along with colored stripes that represent the franchises he's played for in the Lakers, Cavaliers, and Heat.
Check it out:
According to Topps, the patch will be removed from the jersey and dated by the team’s equipment manager following each game—a process that will be captured on video. The patch will then be sent to Topps’ production facility in Dallas, where it will be authenticated and later inserted into a trading card.
Why Now?
The choice of January 12 to begin this jersey patch tribute isn’t entirely random. James’ NBA career began in Sacramento, when his then-Cavaliers took on the Kings in Noevmber of 2003.
With the Lakers set to play the Kings on this date, the NBA is using the occasion to debut the patch, and in turn, tying his historic career to the city where it all started.
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Mike Kadlick is a contributor to the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. Before joining SI in November 2024, he covered the New England Patriots for WEEI sports radio in Boston and continues to do so for CLNS Media. He has a master's in public relations from Boston University. Kadlick is also an avid runner and a proud lover of all things pizza.