Darren Rovell: On the left is a Luka …

Darren Rovell: On the left is a Luka card bought this week with a real autograph and a game worn jersey. At $75K, in this market, it makes sense. On the right, is a questionable auto with a jersey tried on for a photoshoot. This price, in an auction that closed tonight, makes no sense.

Darren Rovell: This card in a PSA 9 …

Darren Rovell: This card in a PSA 9 sold for $26,877 on eBay tonight. eBay sales of this card in this condition put this insane market in perspective. Is it real? If so, how long will it last? 4/2/20: $6,100. 5/9/20: $9,000. 6/8/20: $10,400. 7/20/20: $12,750. 7/29/20: $15,700. 8/31/20: $26,877.

The card was originally pulled out of a …

The card was originally pulled out of a pack of Panini America’s 2013-14 high-end “National Treasures” line … and features the NBA “Logoman” patch from one of Giannis’ rookie jerseys. It’s a 1-of-1 card — so, it’s super rare — but the fact it was graded a MINT 9 by the Beckett Grading Service makes it even more desirable for hardcore collectors.

The first game-worn jerseys from the …

The first game-worn jerseys from the NBA’s restart in Orlando have hit the auction block. NBA Auctions has launched a group of 58 jerseys from the league’s first few games in the “bubble” including those donned by LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Zion Williamson. Jerseys worn by members of the Lakers, Pelicans, Spurs and Nets are the first to reach the auction block from games played after the league stopped play in March due to COVID-19. Most of the jerseys are game-worn while a few were made for players who didn’t see action.

A 2003-2004 LeBron James Upper Deck …

A 2003-2004 LeBron James Upper Deck rookie patch parallel card sold at auction for $1.845 million on Sunday at Goldin Auctions to Lob.com CEO Leore Avidar. The price tag on the rare card sets a record for modern day cards (recognized as cards produced in 1980 or later), and is the most any basketball card has ever sold for. “If we were talking about a T206 (Honus) Wagner, or a 1952 (Mickey) Mantle, it probably wouldn’t be that much news,” said Ken Goldin, founder of Goldin Auctions. “But when you’re talking about a card that was literally produced 17 years ago and is for a guy still playing in the NBA, it’s just shocking news to a lot of people. It’s really where my particular industry has been going for several years.”

For James, wearing No. 23, there were …

For James, wearing No. 23, there were only 23 of this card produced, and since it was graded as a 9.5 mint gem by Beckett grading service, it was one of only two of these particular cards graded that high. “There are only two of them, one of them is in private hands and the other was up for auction,” Goldin said. “So this really was the single best LeBron card that somebody could have hoped to get. It was very active bidding, a lot of bidders, and we’re happy with the results.”

The market for basketball cards has …

The market for basketball cards has been steadily rising over the years with more and more modern card sales coming from the basketball side. “At the present time, I would say that basketball in some cases is stronger than baseball and in other cases is neck-and-neck with baseball,” Goldin said. “I have a tremendous amount of overseas bidders from China, we’ve had bidders from the Middle East, bidders from Australia and from Europe. With baseball, it’s completely North American; it’s 99 percent from North America. With basketball, it could be as much as 50 to 60 percent overseas bidding because it’s more of a worldwide sport. “It’s growing and I believe potentially could have more growth than baseball in the collectability aspect of it.”

Meanwhile, high atop the Chicago …

Meanwhile, high atop the Chicago skyline, Bosh was in a conference room receiving a pitch from the Heat — a meeting punctuated by Pat Riley unfurling a small velvet carpet onto the table, followed by the presentation of a small velvet bag. “Oh, yeah, Pat brought his rings out. It looked just like a Crown Royal bag,” Bosh said. “He puts it down, like boom. Big boy talk. When he ended the meeting, Pat gave me a 2006 Heat championship ring.” “Take it. Keep it. Give it back to me when you win one,” Riley said to Bosh. “I still haven’t given it back,” Bosh said. “I wonder if he even remembers that? I think I mentioned it once, like, ‘Yo, do you want that ring back?’ And he said, ‘What are you talking about?’ And I kept it moving.”

Darren Rovell: JUST IN: We have a new …

Darren Rovell: JUST IN: We have a new record for a modern day card. This LeBron card is currently at $960,000, including buyer’s premium, in @GoldinAuctions sale. There are 23 days left. Previous record was Mike Trout card, which sold in @GoldinAuctions sale last month for $922,500.