Michael Jordan’s 1998 NBA Finals jersey sells for report $10.1M | Basketball Information

Famed US basketball participant Michael Jordan’s Sport 1 jersey from the 1998 NBA Finals has been offered at public sale for $10.1m – a report for any game-worn sports activities memorabilia, public sale home Sotheby’s has introduced.

The crimson, number-23 jersey from Jordan’s “Final Dance” season with the Chicago Bulls fetched 20 separate bids, Sotheby’s stated in an announcement on Thursday, which drove the value to double its $5m estimate.

The sale additionally units a brand new report for a basketball jersey offered at public sale, and the jersey is probably the most worthwhile merchandise of Jordan memorabilia ever to be offered.

“The historic jersey was worn throughout what’s arguably probably the most celebrated season of Jordan’s legendary and storied profession, when the famous person cemented his legacy as the best basketball participant of all time,” Sotheby’s stated.

In line with the public sale home, the jersey is one in every of simply two of Jordan’s NBA Finals jerseys to ever seem at public sale.

A record-breaking day. Michael Jordan’s iconic 1998 NBA Finals ‘The Final Dance’ jersey has offered for $10.1 million, setting information for a basketball jersey, any game-worn sports activities memorabilia, and most dear #MichaelJordan merchandise ever offered at public sale. pic.twitter.com/7t8G98N5pW

— Sotheby’s (@Sothebys) September 15, 2022

Curiosity in Jordan’s 1998 season was sparked but once more after the 2020 launch of an ESPN/Netflix documentary titled, The Final Dance, which detailed the Chicago Bulls’ efforts to realize an unprecedented sixth NBA championship in eight seasons.

The 1998 NBA Finals, which noticed the Bulls tackle the Utah Jazz, led by Karl Malone and John Stockton, was probably the most seen NBA finals collection ever.

It’s also considered a testomony to Jordan as a competitor, a sportsman and a teammate.

“But once more, at present’s record-breaking outcome, with an astounding 20 bids, solidifies Michael Jordan because the undisputed GOAT [Greatest of All Time], proving his title and incomparable legacy is simply as related because it was practically 25 years in the past,” Brahm Wachter, Sotheby’s head of streetwear and trendy collectables, stated in an announcement.

Sport 1

On June 3, 1998, the Chicago Bulls arrived in Utah for Sport 1 of the NBA Finals.

The house crowd was hostile to the workforce, however because the ESPN/Netflix documentary confirmed, Jordan was seemingly unfazed by the stress. There’s a now-famous scene of him grooving on the Bulls bus to R&B singer Kenny Lattimore.

Whereas the Bulls misplaced by three factors in Sport 1, Jordan performed 45 minutes – probably the most of any sport within the finals, Sotheby’s stated. He additionally registered 33 factors to assist ship the sport into additional time.

That season, the Bulls went on to win their sixth NBA Championship and Jordan secured his sixth NBA Finals MVP Award.

The earlier report for any merchandise of Jordan’s sports activities memorabilia was an autographed relic card from 1997-1998, which offered for $2.7m, based on Sotheby’s.

Kobe Bryant’s game-worn and autographed jersey from the 1996-1997 season, which offered for $3.7m, had beforehand held the report for a basketball jersey.

Previous to Jordan’s jersey being offered for $10.1m on Thursday, the earlier report for any game-worn sports activities memorabilia was set by Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” jersey, which fetched $9.3m earlier this yr, Sotheby’s stated.

Lately, the public sale home has expanded into the sneaker and sports activities memorabilia house.

Sotheby’s at the moment holds the report for probably the most worthwhile sneakers offered at public sale, with Michael Jordan’s earliest recognized common season game-worn Nikes promoting for $1.5m final yr.