The Los Angeles Lakers travel to Northern California on Monday night to face the Sacramento Kings. LeBron James and company have suffered back-to-back losses, but are looking to get back on track against one of three remaining NBA teams with fewer than 10 wins. The Kings did defeat the Houston Rockets on Sunday night, though, meaning L.A. cannot overlook Sacramento.
The Lakers are expected to have everyone in the lineup except for Austin Reaves and Adou Thiero, who are nursing long-term injuries. This means James and Luka Doncic will be playing, while Gabe Vincent and Rui Hachimura make their returns to action.
LeBron, though, will have a slightly new look when he takes the court on Monday night. He has been given a special 23rd season jersey patch to wear beginning this game against the Kings and for the rest of the season as part of a collab with Topps:
BREAKING: LeBron James will wear a special-edition 23rd season jersey patch beginning tonight in Sacramento; the city where he began his legendary career in 2003.
The patches will be removed from his jersey after each game, and some will be placed into ultra-rare trading cards. pic.twitter.com/zzOEJyiFUK
— Topps (@Topps) January 12, 2026
Need some of these for my own collection @Topps!!! So dope
https://t.co/DHzn08WZnm
— LeBron James (@KingJames) January 12, 2026
As stated, the choice to begin wearing this patch against the Kings, multiple months into James’ 23rd season, is because they are the team James started his NBA career against all the way back in 2003. Not only will this jersey patch show the unprecedented nature of LeBron’s campaign, it will also be a way to get fans extra chances at his memorabilia before he calls it a career with the trading cards.
This is a subtle, but exciting, way for the league to honor the historic longevity of James. He is the only player in league history to play in his 23rd season, and he does so while still being among the best in the game.
LeBron scored 25 points to go along with six rebounds, nine assists and four steals on 12-of-20 shooting in his first NBA game against the Kings, and Lakers fans are ready to see what he has in store in this game 23 years later.
Giannis Antetokounmpo looks up to LeBron James
James and the Lakers lost to Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night, but the bigger story after the game was the show of respect between the two veteran superstars. LeBron gifted Giannis his jersey, and the Bucks star was ecstatic about that.
The two-time MVP discussed that and the impact James has had on him.
“It means a lot to me,” Antetokounmpo said. “I got his jersey tonight. I think he is the blueprint for every athlete, not just basketball athletes, on how to be consistent. To be consistent for 23 years, to be available, to be a winner, to lead by example. It is incredible for me to be around greatness and I will never take it for granted. I have the utmost respect for him and his family and the way he has carried himself for 22 years. I think he brings the best out of me as a player and he’s one of those guys that I definitely look up to.”
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