The staggering amount paid for a Jalen Brunson NBA Finals jersey
Absolute madness among New York Knicks fans for collector's items
The historic season of Jalen Brunson continues to make an impact, even off the court. The jersey worn by the New York Knicks guard during the first game of the 2026 NBA Finals fetched a price of $1,024,000 at an auction organized by Sotheby's, becoming the most expensive collectible item related to Brunson and the highest-valued Knicks' item ever sold.
The auction, held this Wednesday, witnessed a true battle among collectors with 70 bids before reaching the final amount. The jersey, certified and associated with the first Finals game by Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA), also set a new record for a garment sold through NBA Auctions, surpassing the million dollars paid for the jersey worn by Cooper Flagg during the first half of his NBA debut.
A game that boosted Brunson's value
The auctioned jersey is from the first 2026 Finals duel, where the Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 105-95 in San Antonio. The game was tied going into the last quarter, but Brunson emerged in the decisive moment, scoring 14 of his 30 points in the final period to lead the New York victory.
That performance marked the beginning of a historic series that ended with Brunson as the Finals MVP, skyrocketing his value in the sports memorabilia market. His remarkable playoff journey not only bolstered his status as one of the most significant players in Knicks history but also triggered a surge in demand for items related to his career.
A day after New York secured the championship with a win in the fifth Finals game, a collector paid $312,000 for a unique rookie card of Brunson, a numbered 1-of-1 piece that shattered the previous record for a player's card, set at $96,660 in 2024.
The Brunson phenomenon enters the memorabilia market
Brunson's jersey was not the only Knicks piece to reach significant figures. In total, 15 jerseys worn or prepared for the first Finals game generated revenues of $1,868,416.
Among the most notable were those of Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby, both sold for $256,000. Josh Hart's jersey reached $89,600, while others belonging to players like Mikal Bridges, Mitchell Robinson, or Miles McBride also found buyers.
The frenzy over Brunson-related items has intensified in recent months. In June alone, there were 14 sales of the player's cards over $30,000, with four exceeding $99,000.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El tremendo pastizal que se ha pagado por un jersey de Jalen Brunson de las Finales NBA
