A jersey worn by basketball legend Michael Jordan during Game 1 of the 1998 NBA Finals, his last title victory, is set to be auctioned off in September for an estimated $3-5 million, Sotheby’s announced in August 11, 2022.
The iconic red Chicago Bulls jersey, with Jordan’s number 23 on the back, is only the second worn by the star during his six championships to be sold at auction.
Most of Jordan’s NBA Finals jerseys remain in private hands, according to Sotheby’s, although he has donated one to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Michael Jordan, spent the bulk of his basketball career with the Bulls, with whom he won all six of his titles, but came out of retirement in 2001 to play two seasons with the Washington Wizards.
His final season with the Bulls was detailed in the ESPN/Netflix documentary “The Last Dance” released in 2020.
“The 1997-1998 season is perhaps one of the most popular among Jordan fans, as Michael was reaching the height of his abilities while simultaneously pursuing what he understood would be his last chance at an NBA Championship with the Chicago Bulls,” said Brahm Wachter, head of streetwear and modern collectables at Sotheby’s, in a press release.
RELATED: Care Jordan: The 10 Most Expensive Philanthropic Ventures Of Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan’s jersey from the opening game of the 1998 NBA Finals sold for over $10 million at an auction on Thursday, making it the most expensive piece of game-worn sports memorabilia in history.
The previous record was established earlier this year at Sotheby’s, with Argentine soccer great Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” jersey fetching a staggering $9.3 million.
“In the weeks since we announced the auction, there’s been palpable excitement from not only sports fans, but collectors alike who are eager to own a rarefied piece of history,” said Brahm Wachter, Sotheby’s Head of Streetwear and Modern Collectables.
“Yet again, today’s record-breaking result… solidifies Michael Jordan as the undisputed G.O.A.T, proving his name and incomparable legacy is just as relevant as it was nearly 25 years ago.”
Michael Jordan’s jersey was expected to fetch $3 to $5 million at Sotheby’s “INVICTUS” auction and eclipsed the $3.7 million spent in May on Kobe Bryant’s Los Angeles Lakers jersey worn in his rookie year — the previous record for a basketball jersey at auction.
It also broke the record for any item of Jordan sports memorabilia after his autographed relic card from 1997-1998 sold for $2.7 million.
The jersey worn by Michael Jordan during the “Last Dance” season—named after the ESPN/Netflix documentary of Jordan and the Bulls’ quest to win their sixth NBA title in eight years—attracted a total of 20 bids.
READ NEXT: Scooter Braun Will Pay Ex-Wife Yael Cohen $20 Million And Give $60,000 A Month For Child Support
Sources: TMZ Sports, Inquirer
Source: Read Full Article
