LeBron James rookie card sells for $1.8 million at auction

LeBron James cards are among the most popular across all of the four major North American sports, and that was proven recently with the sale of one of his rookie cards. 

A 2003-04 James Upper Deck rookie Patch Parallel card sold for $1.8 million through Goldin Auctions, according to ESPN's Tom VanHaaren. 

The card, which is rare, set a record for modern-day cards and is the most any basketball card has ever sold for. It blasted the record set by a gem mint Bowman Draft Chrome Red Refractor Mike Trout-signed rookie card for $922,500 in May. 

Goldin Auctions also sold a 2003-04 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Logoman card featuring James and Michael Jordan for $900,000 earlier this year. 

There were only 23 of the James card ever produced and was graded as a 9.5 mint gem by Beckett grading service

According to VanHaaren, the market for basketball cards continues to rise and more sales continue to take place. 

Other James cards up for sale include a 2003-04 rookie card for $20,000, a 2003 Topps Chrome Black Refractor card for almost $200,000 and a 2006-07 Exquisite Michael Jordan and James Dual Auto Jersey card.