The hype surrounding LeBron James when he decided to skip college and declare for the NBA Draft directly out of St. Vincent-St. Mary's High School in 2003 was unlike anything the league had ever seen. The gifted athlete was the coveted prized of that year's NBA Lottery winner, the Cleveland Cavaliers, setting the stage for a hometown partnership that only Hollywood could have scripted.
At only 26, James already has a résumé that reads like that of a Hall of Famer. He's been named league MVP twice, he's a seven-time All-Star, two-time All-Star Game MVP and the 2003-04 Rookie of the Year. Vilified for the manner in which he departed his hometown city in pursuit of an NBA championship, James opted to join the Miami Heat as an unrestricted free agent after the 2009-10 season.
With Michael Jordan's retirement, LeBron James' entry into the NBA breathed new life into the basketball collectibles market. He's the headliner in 2003-04 Upper Deck Exquisite, the hobby's first $500 per pack product. Accompanied by fellow rookies Carmelo Anthony and current teammate Dwayne Wade, Exquisite redefined the standards for a "high-end" trading card product and it's by far James' most coveted rookie card. His rookie card checklist provides dozens of cards to meet the budget of any collector.
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LeBron James Rookie Card Checklist
Budget Rookie Cards
- 2003-04 Bazooka #223
- 2003-04 Black Diamond #184
- 2003-04 Bowman #123
- 2003-04 E-X #102
- 2003-04 Fleer Authentix #104 (/1250)
- 2003-04 Fleer Showcase # 130 (/1000)
- 2003-04 Fleer Tradition #261
- 2003-04 Hoops Hot Prospects #112 (/1000)
- 2003-04 Topps #221
- 2003-04 Topps Contemporary Collection #1
- 2003-04 Topps Jersey Edition #LJ
- 2003-04 Topps Pristine #101
- 2003-04 Upper Deck #301
- 2003-04 Upper Deck MVP #201
- 2003-04 Upper Deck Rookie Exclusives #1
- 2003-04 Upper Deck Standing O #85
- 2003-04 Upper Deck Triple Dimensions #132 (/999)
- 2003-04 Upper Deck Victory #101
Mid-Range Rookie Cards
- 2003-04 Flair #94 (/500)
- 2003-04 Flair Final Edition #75 (/ 799)
- 2003-04 Fleer Avant #65 (/699)
- 2003-04 Fleer Focus #137 (/499)
- 2003-04 Fleer Genuine Insider #104 (/499)
- 2003-04 Fleer Mystique #99 (/999)
- 2003-04 Fleer Patchworks #105 (/799)
- 2003-04 Fleer Platinum # 183 (/750)
- 2003-04 Finest #133 (/999)
- 2003-04 Skybox Autographics #77 (/1500)
- 2003-04 SP Game Used #107 (/999)
- 2003-04 Topps Chrome #111
- 2003-04 UD Glass #100 (/250)
- 2003-04 Ultra #171 (/500)
- 2003-04 Upper Deck Finite #242 (/200)
- 2003-04 Upper Deck Hardcourt #132 (/799)
- 2003-04 Upper Deck Honor Roll #106 (/499, jersey)
- 2003-04 Upper Deck Legends #135 (/999)
- 2003-04 Upper Deck Sweet Shot #91 (/799)
Premium Rookie Cards
- 2003-04 Bowman Chrome # 123
- 2003-04 Bowman Signature Edition # 56 (/1250)
- 2003-04 Skybox LE #118 (/99)
- 2003-04 SP Authentic #148 (/500, autographed)
- 2003-04 SP Signature Edition #101 (/499)
- 2003-04 SPx #151 (/750, autographed jersey)
- 2003-04 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection # 78 (/99, autographed jersey)
- 2003-04 Upper Deck Ultimate Collection # 127 (/250, autographed)
Card Gallery:
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- 2003-04 SP Authentic LeBron James (/500, Autograph)
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- 2003-04 SPx LeBron James (/750, Autographed Jersey)
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- 2003-04 Topps LeBron James
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- 2003-04 Topps Pristine LeBron James
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- 2003-04 Upper Deck Ultimate LeBron James (/500, Autograph)
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