Jan. 12, 2026—Sacramento, Calif.—Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James took the floor at Golden 1 Center wearing a one-of-a-kind jersey patch that marks him as the first player ever to compete in 23 NBA seasons.
The gold-and-purple emblem, created through a collaboration between the NBA and trading-card company Topps, was unveiled during Monday night’s matchup with the Sacramento Kings. No previous player has received an on-court uniform tribute of this kind.
James, 41, said the gesture carried special meaning. “Just super cool, super surreal, super humbled, blessed,” he told Spectrum SportsNet. “I walked in here and saw it for the first time, and it was an emotional moment as well.” He added that the patch made him reflect on “the journey thus far” from his NBA debut in the Bay Area to his current milestone.
The historic accessory could not prevent a loss: the Lakers fell to the Kings despite James’s 22 points, four rebounds and three assists. The veteran missed all five of his attempts from beyond the arc.
After each game, the worn patches will be removed and turned into limited-edition trading cards by Topps, creating what is expected to be a highly sought-after collectors’ series.
James’s longevity has inspired many of today’s stars; Milwaukee Bucks forward and two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo recently acknowledged that he grew up admiring the Lakers standout.
Source: Lakers Nation
