Allen Iverson has made history in the world of memorabilia.
Iverson is recognized as a legend in the NBA. He retired from the league in 2013 and was later inaugurated into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. His name remains influential today, extending his impact beyond the court. The Virginia native currently serves as Vice President of Reebok Basketball (as of 2023), working alongside the President of Reebok Basketball, Shaquille O’Neal, to shape the next generation of the game.
“We gonna do big things. We gon’ work hard. We gon’ give people what they want. We gonna take care of our youngsters,” he said in an interview uploaded to YouTube.
Iverson’s involvement with Reebok also includes a lifetime deal. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, he initially signed a 10-year deal valued at $50 million when he was drafted to the league, securing a spot with the Sixers. In 2001, he earned a lifetime deal after the team made its way to the finals and earned MVP. He now receives $800,000 each year and will be able to access $32 million in 2030 as a result of a trust fund, as AFROTECH™ previously told you.
“It’s a blessing. Reebok has been great to me. Our partnership has been the most beautiful partnership that you could think of,” he said in a former interview with AFROTECH™.
Moreover, Iverson’s influence extends beyond business—it’s also fueling a surge in demand for his memorabilia. Heritage Auctions put the 1997 Skybox E-X 2001 Allen Iverson card up for auction in Jan. 2025, and it ended on Feb. 1. The card displays the basketball legend sporting a Sixers jersey and stats from his rookie season, TMZ notes.
According to Heritage Auctions’ website, it attracted 58 bids from registered phone bidders interested in the “ultra rare” card, which has only three existing copies.
“The 1997 Skybox E-X 2001 Essential Credentials Now Allen Iverson #3 is an ultra-rare and highly sought-after card of the Hall of Fame guard, renowned for his electrifying play and cultural impact on the NBA,” a description on the card shared on Heritage Auction’s website read. “Limited to just three copies, this card features the distinctive design and bold aesthetic that define the Essential Credentials series. Graded PSA EX 5, it remains an exceptional and prized collectible for fans of Iverson and iconic 1990s basketball cards. Limited edition – #02/03.”
Within the card’s first week on the auction block, bids reached $128,000, according to Cllct. The card has since sold for $701,500, making history as the highest Iverson collectible, TMZ reports. The previous record had been surrounding the sale of the 2016-17 Panini National Treasures autographed Logoman in August 2021, according to Cllt. It sold for $79,200.
Iverson joins a list of athletes attached to historic deals on the auction block, including LeBron James. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, his St. Vincent-St. Mary jersey was sold by Julien’s Auction in Gardena, CA. The jersey was featured on an iconic Sports Illustrated cover titled “The Chosen One.”
“LeBron James’ famous ‘The Chosen One’ high school basketball jersey and these rare photo prints of him taken during his remarkable Sports Illustrated photo shoot are some of the most emblematic and important pieces of sports and entertainment history,” said CEO of Julien’s Auctions David Goodman, in a release, according to the Bleacher Report. “This storied jersey represents the pivotal moment of LeBron’s ascension to basketball royalty and is one of the must-have collectibles of all time for sports memorabilia collectors, historians, and fans.”
The jersey sold for $1.3 million in 2024, the highest for a high school jersey.
