A wealthy individual has displayed a significant amount of faith in Victor Wembanyama.
Countless people are optimistic about the San Antonio Spurs’ newest player, but only one person was willing to shell out nearly $762,000 for a piece of his memorabilia.
Wembanyama’s game jersey from his debut in the NBA was auctioned off for the staggering price of $762,000, blowing past initial estimates of $80K to $120K. According to the Sotheby’s website, this jersey was worn during the second half of the game against the Dallas Mavericks on Oct. 25.
This record-breaking sale marks the highest price ever for a rookie player’s jersey sold during their first season in the league. However, it still falls short of the $3.69 million spent on Kobe Bryant’s only known photo-matched jersey from his rookie season.
To put this into perspective, the jersey raked in more money than the sale of Bill Russell’s Olympic gold medal.
The identity of the buyer remains undisclosed, leaving room for speculation about their motives. With Wembanyama’s distinguished start in the NBA, the buyer is potentially making a bet on his future Hall of Fame trajectory. After 14 games, Wembanyama has emerged as the Spurs’ top offensive player and a promising paint defender.
Despite Wembanyama’s standout performances, the Spurs have struggled to improve their record, standing at 3-11 after a lackluster 22-60 season. It’s a hefty price tag to pay for what could potentially be a wise investment in the years to come.
