This story has been updated with final sale price and other details after the auction
According to Sotheby’s, which hosted the auction, the eight-figure amount was more than double the original estimate, setting a new auction record for game-worn sports memorabilia.
Jordan wore a Chicago Bulls jersey in Game 1 of the 1998 NBA Finals. This is the culmination of the famous season known as “The Last Dance,” which was featured in his 2020 ESPN and his Netflix documentary series of the same name. On June 3, 1998, Jordan donned the jersey in a game against the Utah Jazz, scoring 33 points in 45 minutes in a loss to the Bulls.
The Bulls went on to win the championship despite major internal divisions that impacted their season, and Jordan earned his sixth NBA Winners’ Ring.
The 1998 NBA Finals jersey worn in a Michael Jordan game on display at the press preview at Sotheby’s on September 6, 2022. credit: Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images
According to Sotheby’s, it’s one of only two of his final jerseys to ever go up for auction.
Brahm Wachter, head of streetwear and contemporary collectibles at Sotheby’s, said in a statement that the sale “establishes Michael Jordan as the undisputed GOAT (greatest of all time) and honors his name and Proving that an unparalleled legacy is just as relevant as it was nearly 25 years ago…”
Ahead of the sale, Wachter said the 1997-1998 season was “probably one of the most popular seasons among Jordan fans. Michael was at the peak of his ability, and at the same time his NBA Championship success. Pursuing what he understood to be his last chance: the Chicago Bulls.”
“The season itself is his ‘masterpiece’ as an athlete, his testament to being a champion and a competitor,” he added in a press release. The 1998 Final is definitely the most coveted one.”
Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen are on the court during the Utah Jazz vs. Utah Jazz game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City. credit: John W. McDonagh/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images
According to the auction house, the pre-sale estimate of $3 million to $5 million was the highest ever for a Jordan jersey or Jordan memorabilia.
According to Sotheby’s, the shoe set a world record for the highest price of a sneaker at auction. He also became the first sneaker to sell for over $1 million at auction.
