When collectors redeemed the 2002 Topps Finest LeBron XRC, a select few received a Refractor version of the LeBron James Finest card numbered to only /250 (Gold /25).

Because the card was mailed, not pulled, condition sensitivity is extreme. Many were scratched, handled, or stored improperly upon arrival. Few collectors at the time treated mailed redemptions as future grails. As a result, high grade examples of the fulfilled Refractor are exceptionally scarce.

What makes this card special is context. It is not just an early LeBron card. It is proof of belief. Topps committed to delivering a premium Refractor before LeBron had played a single NBA minute. That confidence now reads as historic foresight.

Today, the redeemed Topps Finest Refractor stands as one of the earliest premium LeBron collectibles ever issued. Not hype driven. Not speculative. Just a quiet moment where the hobby bet on greatness and got it right.

The 2002 Topps Finest LeBron James XRC redemption is one of the most fascinating and misunderstood cards in modern basketball collecting. It sits at the intersection of prospect hype, hobby speculation, and pre rookie card history.

Before LeBron James ever played an NBA game, Topps inserted a redemption into 2002 03 Topps Finest. At the time, LeBron was still a high school senior, but his hype was already unprecedented. The redemption promised collectors a future LeBron James card once he officially entered the NBA.

This is why the card is labeled an XRC meaning extended rookie card. It is not a traditional rookie card from the 2003 04 season, but it is officially licensed, pack inserted, and tied directly to LeBron before his rookie year. That alone makes it historically significant.

When collectors redeemed the card, Topps later fulfilled it with a LeBron James Finest card issued after he was drafted. The original redemption itself was never meant to be the final collectible, yet over time it became a grail in its own right due to its rarity, timing, and symbolism.

In a space where nearly every NFT project has faded into obscurity, VeeFriends continues to prove why it belongs in the rare 1% that truly succeeded. While most projects chased hype, VeeFriends focused on longevity, brand, and real world utility. That long term mindset is exactly why it is still relevant while 99% of others quietly exited the market.

VeeFriends was never built as a quick flip. It was built as a media brand, a community, and an ecosystem that could evolve across formats and generations. The consistency of execution, combined with a clear vision, has allowed the project to grow beyond NFTs and into collectibles, events, storytelling, and culture.

That evolution continues in February 2026 with the release of new VeeFriends cards featuring spectacular variations and expanded collectibility. This next chapter reinforces what the market has already shown. Sustainable projects are built, not rushed. VeeFriends is not just surviving the NFT era. It is defining what success looks like after it.

@veefriends @Garyvee @Jeremyknows

Did you know that the very first 400% ghost was created for the inaugural Eastside Golf Invitational Tournament on September 25, 2023 in San Diego, CA.

The ghosts were displayed as tee markers on the course, then gifted to select attendees to commemorate the event.

None were sold to the public.

In 2024, a modified version of this design - ghostwrite x Eastside Golf "Caddy" 400%. - was created for the 2024 ESG tournament, and a limited number were released at auction.

This ghost 👻 is my favorite and it’s not even close.

#Ghostwrite #EastsideGolf

@ghostwrite

Do you remember the 1st time you heard about this kid from Akron OH?

LeBron James' iconic Sports Illustrated "Chosen One" cover was released on February 18, 2002, featuring the high school junior with a headline proclaiming him an NBA lottery pick, a moment that cemented his legendary status before he even played professionally.

The cover story by Grant Wahl captured the immense hype around LeBron, leading him to get a "Chosen 1" tattoo shortly after.

#LebronJames #Basketball #NBA