Editor’s Note: This article was revised to include the final auction price along with additional information.
CNN
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In 1998, Michael Jordan donned a pair of his legendary black and red Air Jordan 13s to secure a Bulls win in Game 2 of his last NBA championship — and now they hold the record for the most expensive sneakers ever sold at auction.
The winning sneakers fetched $2.2 million at Sotheby’s in New York on Tuesday, obliterating the previous sneaker auction record of $1.47 million, which was established in 2021 by a pair of Nike Air Ships worn by Jordan earlier in his career.
The sale comes during what is referred to as “Jordan Year” — an homage to the NBA legend’s iconic jersey number 23. In January, Air Jordan collaborated with Sotheby’s to auction 13 pairs of retro sneakers created in tribute to The Notorious B.I.G. All items exceeded their upper estimates of $5,000 by significant margins, with the most expensive selling for over $32,000.
Last year, Jordan’s Game 1 jersey from the 1998 finals became the most valuable piece of worn sports memorabilia at auction when it brought in $10.1 million during a Sotheby’s event.
Jordan’s farewell season with the Chicago Bulls is commonly known as “The Last Dance,” named after the title of a documentary from ESPN and Netflix that detailed the season. Jordan announced his (second) retirement just weeks prior to the finals, resulting in the six-game series against the Utah Jazz becoming the most-watched in NBA history, according to Nielsen TV ratings. (Jordan would go on to return from 2001 to 2003 to play with the Washington Wizards, though he did not secure another championship).
“Michael Jordan’s game-worn sports memorabilia has consistently demonstrated itself to be among the most prestigious and sought-after items available,” stated Brahm Wachter, head of streetwear and modern collectibles at Sotheby’s, in a press statement before the sale. “However, items from his ‘Last Dance’ season are of even higher significance and impact, as highlighted by our record-setting sale of his Game 1 jersey in 2022.”
The sneakers that were sold on Tuesday were worn in Game 2, held in Salt Lake City, where the Bulls triumphed 93-88 after losing Game 1, with Jordan scoring 37 points. According to a press release from Sotheby’s, they are the final pair of black and red Air Jordan 13s that Jordan wore during an NBA game.
After Game 2, Jordan autographed and gave the worn shoes to the ball boy in the visitor’s locker room, a practice he was well-known for, according to Sotheby’s.
The Air Jordan 13 sneakers took center stage in a memorabilia auction titled “Victoriam,” which showcased items worn by athletes like Tom Brady, Kobe Bryant, and Roger Federer. Additional Jordan memorabilia featured in the two-part auction included a game-worn 1998 Bulls jersey and a pair of 1985 Air Jordan 1s, which sold for $508,000 and $127,000 respectively.
Other notable items included one of Kobe Bryant’s LA Lakers shooting shirts, which fetched over $406,000, and a jersey worn by the late Pelé during his debut for the New York Cosmos in 1975, which sold for more than $177,000.
Top image: The Air Jordan 13 sneakers autographed by Michael Jordan.
