Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images
We were treated to a feel-good story earlier this season when Victor Wembanyama traded his jersey with a five-year-old fan who swapped his tiny one for the threads the superstar rocked during a game. However, things took a turn when it popped up at auction just a few weeks later—and the family is now suing to stop the sale after it fetched more than $73,000.
Victor Wembanyama recently saw his sophomore season with the Spurs come to an unexpected end due to a blood clot in his shoulder. It was obviously a disappointing setback for the French superstar, but it was also an unfortunate development for the fans who’ve been treated to some unreal performances courtesy of a big man who seems poised to become the next face of the NBA.
There’s subsequently a very hot market for Wembanyama memorabilia, and plenty of people would go to great lengths to get a jersey he’s donned in a game.
A five-year-old fan was able to check that box when he watched Wembanyama and the Spurs earn a 96-87 win over the Nets in Brooklyn on December 27th, as Frankie Desideri Jr. was wearing the child-sized Wemby jersey he exchanged for the one the man himself wore during that contest to treat NBA fans to a pretty heartwarming moment.
Best jersey swap ever 🥹 pic.twitter.com/mcJxJQXlJI
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) December 28, 2024
However, it was marred by the revelation the jersey in question was listed at an auction that Goldin announced it was hosting midway through January; Wembanyama made it pretty clear he wasn’t thrilled with that development after it came to his attention, but it seemed somewhat safe to assume the family was when you consider it ended up selling for $73,200 after the auction ended last weekend.
However, we’ve been treated to yet another twist, as Cllct reports Frankie Desideri Sr. has filed a lawsuit against Goldin in an attempt to nullify the sale, saying they “originally consented to auctioning the jersey” but unsuccessfully lobbied to stop the proceedings after his son decided he wanted to keep it.
The outlet notes the father claims the contract he signed should be void due to a law that makes it illegal to sell property belonging to a child valued at $50,000 or more without a court-appointed official getting involved and also says Goldin ignored his request to not use the family’s likeness in any promotional material.
Ken Goldin, the CEO and founder of the auction house, pushed back against the claims while asserting Desideri actively pursued the sale, and the company’s legal team argued he simply had seller’s remorse that wasn’t enough to justify the dissolution of what was presumably a fairly ironclad contract.
A hearing on the matter will be held in court in New York on Thursday.