How much could Michael Jordan’s 98 NBA Finals jersey sell for at auction?
With Sotheby’s set to handle the auction next month, the world will be waiting to see who spends big for a piece of Michael Jordan’s incredible history.
Whether we describe the world of sports memorabilia as strange or curious, there is one thing that’s certain and that’s the fact that it’s always expensive.
Michael Jordan’s jersey to sell for ridiculous price
$5 million! That’s what reports are indicating, could be the price of a jersey worn by Michael Jordan during Game 1 of the 1998 NBA Finals. Set to be auctioned by Sotheby’s next month, the iconic jersey - worn by ‘His Airness’ during the now famous “Last Dance” season - will be offered to potential buyers on September 6th with the opening of the bidding process. In case you’re wondering, when the gavel comes down it will be the second time that a Michael Jordan game-worn jersey has been sold at auction, however, from the looks of it the price will be something to behold. Interestingly, In Oct. 2021, a pair of Jordan’s game-worn Nike Air Ship sneakers sold for a then record of $1.47 million at auction. Jordan famously wore the red and white sneakers in his fifth NBA game with the Bulls back in Nov. 1984.
What’s so special about the Bulls’ 1997-98 season?
As fans of the aforementioned “Last Dance” docuseries will be all too aware, that fateful campaign was arguably the greatest in their dynasty years and where Jordan himself is concerned, possibly the best performance we ever witnessed. “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,” Sotheby’s head of streetwear and modern collectables Brahm Wachter, said on Wednesday. Wachter also made reference to why to why there is such interest in Jordan associated memorabilia saying, “The season itself is his ‘magnum opus’ as an athlete, and a testament to him as a champion and competitor. Finals jerseys from Jordan are remarkably scant, and the 1997-1998 Finals are arguably the most coveted of them all.”
The ‘Last Dance’ increased interest in Michael Jordan
With Sotheby’s estimating that the jersey could sell for around $3-5 million - the most ever paid for a piece of Jordan-related memorabilia - it’s easy to understand that some might be wondering just why there is such an intense interest in owning an item from the GOAT himself. While that may seem a straight forward question to answer, it should be said that ESPN’s ‘Last Dance’ definitely served to increase the fascination - though you might doubt it - with Jordan and his exploits. Aired by the network in 2020, the series gave an intimate look at the man himself and the manner in which he drove his team - sometimes harshly - to greatness.