Aesthetically best cards: LeBron James edition

GOATcards · 02-13-2022, 02:25 PM

(2nd installment of the "aesthetically best cards" series. 1st installment for Michael Jordan cards is here)

I know I must be missing a bunch given all the issues out there, but these have caught my eye (going chronologically this time):

2003 Ultimate Collection Autograph /250

2003 Finest Gold Refractor /25

2003 Upper Deck Air Academy

2003 Topps Pristine Minis (looming large, much like the '70 Wilt)

2005 Topps '52 Style

2008 Topps (even though I'm not usually a fan of sideways cards) (image is of chrome refractor parallel)

2009 Bowman '48

2013 Prizm (most extreme leg angle I've seen on a LeBron-driving card)

2019 Donruss Net Marvels

Tallboy · 02-13-2022, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GOATcards

2008 Topps (even though I'm not usually a fan of sideways cards) (image is of chrome refractor parallel)

#1 for me by a wide margin. Perhaps the single best designed sports card I've ever seen.

Tallboy · 02-13-2022, 03:29 PM

To post a few more:

E-X rookie - for whatever reason, the practice jersey doesn't bother me here. It's a card that pops whenever I see its image:

2nd Year ('04-05) Ultra - after an ugly card for LeBron's rookie, they made a masterpiece in the follow-up:

'12-13 Hoops Courtside - best on-court image of LeBron in a Heat uniform.

'16-17 Prizm - I know it's a similar pic to the '12-13, but to me the pose here just really sums up his 2nd stint with the Cavs. This is LeBron seeking to take control of everything he can possibly control.

'20-21 Prizm - I'm not much of a Prizm guy because I generally don't like the photograph in the set. '16-17 was a bit of an exception because of the pose LeBron allowed them to use and the way they used team colors to make it feel more dynamic...but the '20-21 card just represents something entirely different. Some have complained about how small the image of LeBron is, and that's certainly understandable. I wouldn't want all cards to be like that, but in this particular card, the background really, really tells a story.

Giroux · 02-13-2022, 09:21 PM

My entry

ninjacookies · 02-13-2022, 09:33 PM

cboog3105 · 02-13-2022, 10:01 PM

kaisersoze · 02-13-2022, 10:23 PM

biased but i love everything about this card design and photo used

hermanotarjeta · 02-13-2022, 11:35 PM

Gotta be any Lebron dual autographed card with Michael Jordan on it, of course!

sorr1l · 02-14-2022, 04:15 AM

Fleer Mystique Lebron

nbahobbyaddict · 02-14-2022, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GOATcards

2003 Ultimate Collection Autograph /250

So iconic, so beautiful. I never get tired of looking at this card.

mc1 · 02-14-2022, 10:21 AM

2013 Panini Black Friday - Panini Collection #6 - Lebron James
Courtesy of COMC.com

SlickRick · 02-14-2022, 12:56 PM

2014 Hoops Lights Camera Action. Another cool, relatively unknown, chalk toss card

Sent from my Pixel 6 using Tapatalk

razorsharp · 02-14-2022, 05:04 PM

2003 Ultimate is such a great set.

GOATcards · 07-21-2023, 05:50 PM

06 Turkey Red #2, the pose is very Bron-Bron

gymratcards · 07-21-2023, 07:20 PM

This is a favorite. I feel like the 2016 championship, overcoming 3-1 in the Finals, will be the high water mark in his career.

gespaco · 07-22-2023, 10:17 AM

This is not my specific copy, but I do have one

2004-05 Bowman Chrome Refractor

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Cavs16 · 07-22-2023, 03:01 PM

My favorite

GOATcards · 07-22-2023, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cavs16

My favorite

damn sideways cards lol

GOATcards · 07-22-2023, 04:03 PM

Craphit · 07-22-2023, 10:05 PM

That 03 finest gold slaps.

I've always liked this card in person, a "swatch of class". Fitting name as I think the card is classy.

kkkz · 07-23-2023, 10:44 AM

Impact parallel
.

mc1 · 07-23-2023, 10:46 AM

2015-16 Panini NBA Hoops - [Base] - Red #14 - LeBron James /299
Courtesy of COMC.com

GOATcards · 07-23-2023, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mc1

2015-16 Panini NBA Hoops - [Base] - Red #14 - LeBron James /299
Courtesy of COMC.com

it's better sideways

GOATcards · 08-02-2023, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GOATcards

06 Turkey Red #2, the pose is very Bron-Bron

the image at the Beckett website is better at capturing the rich colors on this masterpiece

Thebirdman321 · 08-02-2023, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GOATcards

the image at the Beckett website is better at capturing the rich colors on this masterpiece

I’m certainly biased but turkey red is a beautiful set. Love this card

02-13-2022, 09:33 PM	#5
ninjacookies Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: All the girls see the (boi)/ Look at his flips / Look at his kards / All they say is (oh boi). Posts: 56,509	__________________ #5 world ranked Ledell Eackles superclection as recognized by Tuff Stuff junior managing editor, Barry McCaulkinner. Somethin' like a cross between Teddy Aguhob and Kaboom Mystery Packs. I got that Givenchy denim flow.

02-14-2022, 10:21 AM	#11
mc1 Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 11,208	2013 Panini Black Friday - Panini Collection #6 - Lebron James Courtesy of COMC.com __________________ B.I.D.

07-22-2023, 10:17 AM	#16
gespaco Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: St. Clair Shores, MI Posts: 414 gespaco411 gespaco	This is not my specific copy, but I do have one 2004-05 Bowman Chrome Refractor Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ Detroit Pistons & Will Blalock Super Collector

07-22-2023, 03:01 PM	#17
Cavs16 Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Houston Posts: 3,414	My favorite __________________ Basketball Album https://www.flickr.com/photos/148187632@N03/albums/72157708161953475 Football Album https://www.flickr.com/photos/148187632@N03/albums/72157709347219757

07-23-2023, 10:46 AM	#22
mc1 Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 11,208	2015-16 Panini NBA Hoops - [Base] - Red #14 - LeBron James /299 Courtesy of COMC.com __________________ B.I.D.

02-13-2022, 02:25 PM	#1
GOATcards Member Join Date: Feb 2021 Posts: 6,492	Aesthetically best cards: LeBron James edition (2nd installment of the "aesthetically best cards" series. 1st installment for Michael Jordan cards is here) I know I must be missing a bunch given all the issues out there, but these have caught my eye (going chronologically this time): 2003 Ultimate Collection Autograph /250 2003 Finest Gold Refractor /25 2003 Upper Deck Air Academy 2003 Topps Pristine Minis (looming large, much like the '70 Wilt) 2005 Topps '52 Style 2008 Topps (even though I'm not usually a fan of sideways cards) (image is of chrome refractor parallel) 2009 Bowman '48 2013 Prizm (most extreme leg angle I've seen on a LeBron-driving card) 2019 Donruss Net Marvels

02-13-2022, 03:29 PM	#3
Tallboy Member Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 918	To post a few more: E-X rookie - for whatever reason, the practice jersey doesn't bother me here. It's a card that pops whenever I see its image: 2nd Year ('04-05) Ultra - after an ugly card for LeBron's rookie, they made a masterpiece in the follow-up: '12-13 Hoops Courtside - best on-court image of LeBron in a Heat uniform. '16-17 Prizm - I know it's a similar pic to the '12-13, but to me the pose here just really sums up his 2nd stint with the Cavs. This is LeBron seeking to take control of everything he can possibly control. '20-21 Prizm - I'm not much of a Prizm guy because I generally don't like the photograph in the set. '16-17 was a bit of an exception because of the pose LeBron allowed them to use and the way they used team colors to make it feel more dynamic...but the '20-21 card just represents something entirely different. Some have complained about how small the image of LeBron is, and that's certainly understandable. I wouldn't want all cards to be like that, but in this particular card, the background really, really tells a story.

02-13-2022, 09:21 PM	#4
Giroux Member Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: USA Posts: 4,883 cardsgoingup	My entry

02-13-2022, 10:01 PM	#6
cboog3105 Member Join Date: Feb 2020 Posts: 1,146 cboog3105

02-13-2022, 10:23 PM	#7
kaisersoze Member Join Date: Jun 2021 Posts: 725	biased but i love everything about this card design and photo used

02-13-2022, 11:35 PM	#8
hermanotarjeta Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 20,784	Gotta be any Lebron dual autographed card with Michael Jordan on it, of course!

02-14-2022, 04:15 AM	#9
sorr1l Member Join Date: Aug 2020 Posts: 40	Fleer Mystique Lebron

02-14-2022, 12:56 PM	#12
SlickRick Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 463	2014 Hoops Lights Camera Action. Another cool, relatively unknown, chalk toss card Sent from my Pixel 6 using Tapatalk

02-14-2022, 05:04 PM	#13
razorsharp Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 3,216	2003 Ultimate is such a great set.

07-21-2023, 05:50 PM	#14
GOATcards Member Join Date: Feb 2021 Posts: 6,492	06 Turkey Red #2, the pose is very Bron-Bron

07-21-2023, 07:20 PM	#15
gymratcards Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: WA Posts: 346 tiptopcardshop	This is a favorite. I feel like the 2016 championship, overcoming 3-1 in the Finals, will be the high water mark in his career.

07-22-2023, 04:03 PM	#19
GOATcards Member Join Date: Feb 2021 Posts: 6,492

07-22-2023, 10:05 PM	#20
Craphit Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Posts: 111	That 03 finest gold slaps. I've always liked this card in person, a "swatch of class". Fitting name as I think the card is classy.

07-23-2023, 10:44 AM	#21
kkkz Member Join Date: Mar 2021 Posts: 580	Impact parallel .