"LeBron must've bought it" - NBA fans abuzz over Bronny James' jersey hitting a whopping $38,400 in auction

Fans were left stunned when Bronny James’ NBA Summer League debut jersey sold for over three times its expected value in Sotheby’s “Summer League Selects” auction on Friday. The auction also featured jerseys from other 2024 draftees selected higher than LeBron James’ son.

According to The Athletic, Bronny James’ jersey was originally estimated to fetch between $6,000 and $10,000 but ended up selling for an astonishing $38,400.

Fans were surprised at the amount, with many sharing their thoughts and reactions across social media.

One fan on X/Twitter said:

“Lol. LeBron must've bought it.”

Some fans on Instagram had similar reactions to the news:

NBA fans react to Bronny James' jersey selling for $38,400 (Image Credit: @theathletichq/Instagram)

Bronny James, the No. 55 overall pick in the second round of the 2024 NBA draft, made his debut for the Los Angeles Lakers on July 6. He scored four points, shooting 2-for-9 in 21 minutes, with the Lakers enduring a 108-94 loss to the Sacramento Kings.

Some fans shared their reactions under a Bleacher Report post about Bronny's jersey selling at auction, expressing confusion over the high price:

"Why? Who TF would?," one fan asked.

"I think that’s the price of nepotism, not hard work," another fan commented.

"Finna change my last name to James," one fan added.

However, not all fans were put off or confused by the price. Some viewed it as a smart investment:

"It’ll be worth a lot more in the future, good investment," one fan said.

"Even if Bronny turns out to be a bust down the road that jersey will probably still go up in value over the next few years," a fan added.

Bronny James is the first Lakers player to don the No. 9 jersey since Sterling Brown in the 2022-23 season.

Previously, Bronny wore No. 0 in high school and No. 6 – LeBron's former jersey number – in college at USC.

However, with the No. 6 retired league-wide in tribute to Bill Russell, Bronny opted for No. 9, a number worn by 15 former Lakers, including Nick Van Exel, Matt Barnes and Rajon Rondo.

A look at how Bronny James’ jersey outshined fellow draftees

Bronny James’ jersey sold for more than that of even the No. 1 overall pick, Zaccharie Risacher. Risacher’s game-worn Atlanta Hawks jersey went for $3,360, while No. 3 overall pick Reed Sheppard’s Houston Rockets jersey sold for $15,600, according to The Athletic.

Per the same report, a LeBron James jersey sold for $42,000 during the same auction, just $3,600 more than Bronny’s Summer League debut jersey.

For comparison, the Summer League debut jersey of 2023’s No. 1 draft pick, Victor Wembanyama, sold for $62,020 last year.

Summer League jerseys are highly coveted by fans as they represent the beginning of a player’s NBA career.

How do you think Bronny James will fare in his rookie season with the LA Lakers? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.