Upper Deck was happy to oblige the thousands of basketball card collectors who wanted to get a piece of LeBron James after the ultra-hyped prospect made his NBA Debut in 2003. LeBron signed an exclusive autograph agreement with UD, leaving it up to the company to answer collectors’ calls. The company released 19 products in 2003, representing a nearly 20% increase from the previous year. One of those 19 would change collecting forever. Upper Deck introduced its revolutionary Exquisite Collection in conjunction with the LeBron-led rookie class. At $500 per five-card box, the barrier-breaking high-end product featured troves of hard-signed autographs and intricate patches – making it an instant classic that helped usher in a new era of trading cards. The Exquisite era kicked off with an array of LeBron RPAs, including his /100 Patches Autographs. This PSA 8 / DNA 10 example is stamped 040/100 and features a two-color, game-worn patch inside an E-shaped patch window representing the Exquisite brand. That swatch is joined by The King’s hard-signed signature. It’s a timeless basketball collectible that represents the beginning of both James’ legendary career and the monumental Exquisite run.
The certification number on this card has been checked against the third-party grader's online database and is active as of 02/24/2025.
