LeBron James is playing in his record 23rd NBA season, and he is still largely the same superstar-level player he has always been. Coming into the Los Angeles Lakers‘ game on Monday against the Sacramento Kings, he was averaging 21.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 6.9 assists a game, and in his last 13 games, he put up 25.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and 6.5 assists a game.
During Monday’s game, James’ Lakers jersey had a new addition: a patch that honors him for playing in more seasons than anyone else in league history.
Via ESPN:
“When LeBron James takes the court Monday in the city his NBA career started in 2003, his Los Angeles Lakers uniform will look a little different to commemorate the occasion,” wrote Dave McMenamin.
“James’ jersey will have a patch affixed to the upper right chest to celebrate his record-setting 23rd NBA season, featuring a silhouette of his pregame chalk toss and three colored stripes representing the franchises he has played for in Cleveland, Miami and L.A.
“James will wear the patch throughout the remaining 46 games of the regular season.”
It will also provide an opportunity for collectors to get their hands on some rare pieces of memorabilia.
“After every game James plays, the patch will be removed from his jersey by the Lakers’ equipment manager, dated and then shipped to Topps’ production facility in Dallas where it will be authenticated and later inserted into a trading card.”
BREAKING: LeBron James will wear a special-edition 23rd season jersey patch beginning tonight in Sacramento; the city where he began his legendary career in 2003.
The patches will be removed from his jersey after each game, and some will be placed into ultra-rare trading cards. pic.twitter.com/zzOEJyiFUK
— Topps (@Topps) January 12, 2026
James made his NBA regular-season debut in Sacramento on Oct. 29, 2003, and in that contest, he posted 25 points on 12-of-20 field-goal shooting, six rebounds, nine assists and four steals. The Cleveland Cavaliers, who took him with the No. 1 pick in that June’s draft, won that game 106-92.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: LeBron James is now wearing a special patch on his Lakers jersey
