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Stephen Curry's Game 3 NBA Finals Jersey Sells for Record $135,060 at Auction

Tim Daniels@TimDanielsBRX.com LogoFeatured ColumnistJune 30, 2017

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) plays against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second half of Game 3 of basketball's NBA Finals in Cleveland, Wednesday, June 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Tony Dejak/Associated Press

A Golden State Warriors jersey worn by superstar guard Stephen Curry in Game 3 of the 2017 NBA Finals set a new league record for game-worn memorabilia in an auction Thursday night.

Darren Rovell of ESPN.com reported the Curry jersey sold for $135,060, easily outpacing Cleveland Cavaliers counterpart LeBron James ($92,020) as well as Dubs teammates Kevin Durant ($71,260) and Andre Iguodala ($31,706).

It's the latest sign the two-time NBA Most Valuable Player has taken over as the league's ultimate fan favorite. On Thursday, the league announced he had the best-selling jersey during the sales quarter covering the 2017 NBA playoffs, once again edging out James.

In January, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr suggested the sharpshooter's popularity is starting to reach, and potentially surpass, that of Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan. He told the Associated Press (via USA Today) a special connection with children is the main reason.

"They all identify with him," Kerr said. "He's probably the rare superstar where an eight-year-old kid can go, 'He looks just like me. Maybe I can do it.'"

As for the MJ comparison, Kerr added: "The crowd size is similar, but the biggest difference is the children that gravitate toward Steph. You see so many little kids with Steph jerseys begging for his autograph."

Meanwhile, Curry told Bleacher Report's Howard Beck in April he gets countless social-media messages from people trying to match his long-range shooting skills.

"Somebody will hit a deep three, and they'll tag me in it, saying, 'Such and such did his best Steph Curry impersonation,'" he said. "Just random people from all over the country—all over the world."

The numbers don't lie. Whether it's a single game-worn jersey or the unmatched number of replica jerseys sold to fans around the globe, Curry is the league's merchandising king.