Adelaide’s Rob Lee shows off his $3 million sports jersey collection ahead of appearance on TV show, Cards and Collectables Australia
Find out how an Adelaide man’s $6,000 investment in a US basketball uniform turned into a huge windfall. And that’s just one item in his jaw-dropping collection.
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It’s arguably one of Australia’s best sporting memorabilia collections, worth an estimated $3 million – but you won’t find it in a museum or a bank vault.
Adelaide’s Rob Lee keeps his treasure trove of 330 NBA basketball jerseys and AFL jumpers ready to show off to friends when they come over to visit.
“I just like being able to touch them, and take them out whenever I want. That’s part of the fun of owning something like this,” said the marketing and communications manager.
His most valuable item is a game-worn Michael Jordan top from the Chicago Bulls’ 1989/90 season, which he bought online for $6,000 in 2009 but is now worth an incredible $1.5m.
“He transcends basketball. For someone who grew up idolising Jordan, I still pinch myself every day that I’ve managed to nab something that was worn by the greatest athlete of all time,” he said.
Mr Lee has already received offers up to $500,000 for the iconic red uniform, which was worn for about 10 games during that season. A similar MJ jersey, from 1992/93, sold at auction for $2.63m in the US last month.
While that’s the most expensive jersey in his collection, Mr Lee has vowed never to part with two different items: Crows legend Darren Jarman’s 1997 and 1998 AFL grand final guernseys. A diehard Adelaide fan, Mr Lee said they are simply priceless.
“No matter what happens, I’ll never sell those. That meant so much to the city at the time. I’ll never get an offer that would make selling them worth it,” said Mr Lee, who paid Jarman $50,000 for eight of his Crows and State of Origin uniforms, including the two flag-winning tops.
Mr Lee’s amazing collection will feature on new TV show, Cards and Collectables Australia, which launches on 9Go on June 22.
Series creator Lennon Cooper has uncovered some of the country’s most passionate collectors and jaw-dropping collections – including trading cards worth over $250,000 each – but he said Mr Lee’s is the equal of any he’s seen.
“Rob’s jersey collection is not just the best of its kind in Australia, it’s undoubtedly one of the best in the world,” he said.
“His Jordan game-worn jersey is one of only a handful of game-worn MJs in existence worldwide.”
Mr Lee said he started collecting replica jerseys in the early 2000s, before realising game-worn items were the most valuable kind of memorabilia available.
“I eventually worked out you can buy the ones off the players’ back. A game-worn jersey is a piece of history, it’s a whole other level up – and then you just get hooked,” said the 41-year-old, who photomatches each top to ensure authenticity.
Mr Lennon said Australia’s collectables market gets “bigger every year” with the pandemic helping kickstart the boom.
“People were stuck at home and started reminiscing about things from their childhood,” he said.
“Some things like trading cards, memorabilia and vintage toys have gone up as much as 10 times in value in the last five years.”
For the first episode, Mr Cooper said he met with a Pokemon collector who has over $3m worth of cards.
“Throughout the season there are lots of collectors whose collections are seven figures,” he said. “Some key items are Spiderman’s first appearance in a comic book, exquisite Michael Jordan cards, rare Nintendo consoles, a Ninja Turtle, He-Man figures still in their original boxes and more.
“I don’t think that people will believe some of the mind-blowing collections that reside Down Under.”
Cards and Collectables Australia premieres on June 22, 3pm on 9Go.
Rob Lee’s collection by the numbers
About 80 game-worn basketball jerseys: 35 NBA, 40 NBL, 5 WNBA/other
TOP FIVE BASKETBALL
- Michael Jordan 1989/90 Chicago Bulls
Approx value: $1m – $1.5 million
- Kobe Bryant 2011/12 Los Angeles Lakers
Approx value: $500,000
- LeBron James 2012/13 Miami Heat
Approx value: $100,000
- Larry Bird 1990/91 Boston Celtics
Approx value: $70,000
Hakeem Olajuwon 1989/90 Houston Rockets
Approx value: $50,000
About 250 game-worn guernseys, mostly Crows and other AFL/State of Origin tops
TOP FIVE FOOTBALL
- Gary Ablett Snr 1996 Geelong Cats (1000th goal jumper)
Approx value: $30,000
- Darren Jarman 1998 Adelaide Crows grand final
Approx value: $25,000
- Darren Jarman 1997 Adelaide Crows grand final
Approx value: $20,000
- Alan Didak 2010 Collingwood Magpies drawn grand final
Approx value: $10,0000
- Adam Goodes 2015 Sydney Swans Indigenous war dance game
Approx value: $3000 – $5000
Overall worth of collection: Approx $2.5m – $3m
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Originally published as Adelaide’s Rob Lee shows off his $3 million sports jersey collection ahead of appearance on TV show, Cards and Collectables Australia
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