There’s no doubt Victor Wembanyama made such a deep mark on the NBA and its fans in just his first year in the league. Proof of that is how much his San Antonio Spurs jersey went for in a recent auction.
Before Wemby entered the NBA, the big man generated tons of hype in Europe and in his matches against the G League Ignite. Due to these matches, the public saw how he blended a tall frame with ball-handling, outside shooting, insane defense, and a high basketball IQ. That’s why it made perfect sense for the San Antonio Spurs’ front office to select him using the first overall pick last year.
While his first few games started out slow, Wembanyama gained some steam and never looked back since. Over the course of 71 games, the Spurs’ franchise player notched 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.2 steals, and 3.6 blocks per contest. He also connected 46 percent from the field, 32 percent from deep, and almost 80 percent from the free throw line.
After the regular season, the NBA bestowed the Rookie of the Year on Wemby, validating his insane first year in the NBA. He also came second in the Defensive Player of the Year race and losing only to Minnesota Timberwolves big man Rudy Gobert in the end.
San Antonio Spurs Star Victor Wembanyama’s Jersey Sold For Insane Amount of Money
To say that Wembanyama’s popularity has shot through the roof is an understatement. Proof of this is when his Spurs jersey sold for a bonkers amount, as written by Will Stern in an article for cllct.com.
“A Victor Wembanyama game-worn jersey from his Rookie of the Year season sold for $120,000 to headline Sotheby’s ”Primetime Performers” auction Tuesday night. Wembanyama’s 2023-24 Icon Edition jersey had a high estimate of $50,000 and was worn in the first half of a Jan. 4, 2024, game in which the rookie scored 27 points in a loss against the Bucks.
The result, which followed a spirited extended bidding process that carried the lot up from $80,000, is further evidence of the Spurs sensation’s ability to command premiums in the collectible markets, best exemplified last year when his NBA debut jersey fetched $762,00,” Stern wrote.
Along with Wemby’s piece of memorabilia, jerseys belonging to Derrick Rose and Chet Holmgren also sold for $31,200 and $15,600, respectively, A pair of game-worn custom Air Force 1s from New York Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau also fetched $3,360.
Needless to say, Wemby’s popularity can only grow bigger from here. It’s only a matter of time now before he dominates on and off the court in the future.
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