LeBron James' First Pack-Sealed 76er Cards Are Short-Printed
Topps says a last-minute add put LeBron James on the Sixers in 2026-27 Topps Flagship Basketball
LeBron James, nearing the end of his illustrious career, signed a two-year, just under $8 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, and excitement around his cards on his new team is building.
“Due to a last-minute add to production, LeBron has cards as both a Sixer AND a Laker in 2026-27 Topps Flagship Basketball... With his Sixers cards being particularly rare 👀,” Topps announced via social media on Oct. 19.1
Critics in the comments section on X are questioning Topps because LeBron signed with the Sixers on July 26 this past summer.
Collectors pointed out that the checklist on Topps’ website lists him as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, not the Philadelphia 76ers, even on short prints.2
Topps’ announcement showed that LeBron James parallels would be pictured on the Sixers. However, Topps has not updated the checklist to reflect these short prints.
Collectors on Topps’ post on X were recalling the mistake in production from 2022 Topps Chrome Baseball. Key rookie short prints that were meant to go into the product, like Julio Rodriguez and Bobby Witt Jr., did not make it in. Topps had to include ‘silver packs’ which could have a few extra base cards at random from 2022 Topps Chrome, including randomly inserted Rodriguez and Witt Jr. cards. Collectors also reported finding previously expired hits from other products in them as a bonus.3
This announcement could be disappointing if it turns out not to be true, and it makes collectors and investors wonder if these rarer LeBron Sixer cards only went into later-produced boxes of the upcoming Topps release.
We will find out how rare these LeBron Sixer cards are starting on release day, Nov. 5, and what that will do to the prices of his first pack-pulled cards pictured on his new team.