In a high-stakes auction held at Sotheby’s in New York, a pair of Michael Jordan’s shoes from the climactic 1998 NBA Finals changed hands for a record-setting sum. The black and red sneakers, signed by Jordan in silver ink, drew a winning bid of 2.2 million dollars, a price that sets a new apex for sports memorabilia and sneakers alike.
Associated with an unprecedented surge in demand for Jordan memorabilia, the auction house emphasized that the ongoing appetite for items linked to the basketball icon has continued to rise beyond prior expectations. Brahm Wachter, who heads apparel and fashion collections, commented that today’s result underscores the strong market interest in Jordan’s legacy and its enduring cultural impact.
Interest in Jordan collectibles isn’t new, but it remains striking. Last year, a jersey worn by the same legend during the Finals sold for 10.1 million dollars, a world record for used sports memorabilia, illustrating how historical moments tied to Jordan command extraordinary attention from collectors.
The Finals season to which these items belong is widely regarded as one of the defining periods of Jordan’s career. It earned the moniker “The Last Dance” in part due to the documentary that chronicled the era. In the championship game, Jordan wore the most-watched footwear in NBA history, scoring 37 points in 40 minutes and guiding the Chicago Bulls to a 93-88 victory over the Utah Jazz in the decisive stretch.
Sotheby’s has noted that Jordan’s reach extends beyond basketball, permeating pop culture and fashion. The heightened interest in 2023 dovetails with the release of the film Air, which chronicles Jordan’s partnership with Nike and the origins of his iconic Air Jordan line, a narrative that continues to fuel demand for related memorabilia [Sotheby’s attribution].
These shoes were offered as a single lot in an online auction named Victoria, a sale series expected to rotate in new memorabilia from today’s iconic athletes, alongside historic items from past stars. The auction house projects the provenance could command a final price in the range of two to four million dollars as collectors weigh the significance of Jordan’s role in sports and popular culture [Sotheby’s attribution].
For weeks, the items were displayed at Sotheby’s New York headquarters. The setting was intentionally dramatic, with the venue kept in near darkness except for a focused spotlight that highlighted the shoes and cast a striking glow on surrounding surfaces, aligning with the aura of a rare, museum-grade treasure within the world of athletic memorabilia.