When Michael Jordan's "The Last Dance" jersey sold for $10.1 million, breaking record for most expensive jersey and game-worn sports memorabilia ever
In September 2022, Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan’s “The Last Dance” jersey sold for $10.1 million at Sotheby's New York auction house. In doing so, it set the record for the most expensive jersey and game-worn sports memorabilia ever.
The sale price surpassed Diego Maradona's "Hand of God" jersey from the 1986 World Cup, which was sold for $9.28 million in May. This came after Jordan's jersey was estimated to sell for around $3 million.
However, the jersey received 20 bids which raised the price up to a record-breaking figure.
A record-breaking day. Michael Jordan's iconic 1998 NBA Finals 'The Last Dance' jersey has sold for $10.1 million, setting records for a basketball jersey, any game-worn sports memorabilia, and most valuable #MichaelJordan item ever sold at auction. https://t.co/7t8G98N5pW
The Last Dance marked Michael Jordan’s final season with the Chicago Bulls in the 1997-1998 NBA season. It also marked the year Jordan won his sixth and final NBA championship.
Jordan wore the record-breaking jersey during Game 1 of the 1998 Finals, which took place on June 3, 1998. Jordan finished with a game-high 33 points as Chicago fell 88-85 to the Utah Jazz.
Jordan’s final season in Chicago only grew in mystique, following the 2020 ESPN 10-part documentary miniseries titled “The Last Dance.” The series featured exclusive interviews and footage from the Bulls’ iconic season.
This gave younger NBA fans an extra sense of appreciation for the Bulls legend. It also sparked even more conversations about the NBA GOAT debate.
So all things considered, a game-worn Michael Jordan jersey from the 1998 NBA Finals is obviously a very hot commodity.
Sotheby’s vice president on historic "The Last Dance" Michael Jordan jersey sale
The historic sale of Michael Jordan’s The Last Dance jersey had a big impact on the auction industry. Overall, the sale was part of a bounce-back for the industry, following a brief downswing during the heights of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Following the sale, Brahm Wachter, Sotheby's vice president and head of streetwear and modern collectibles, spoke about its impact. Wachter also went on to explain how the sale solidified Michael Jordan’s GOAT status.
"In the weeks since we announced the auction, there's been palpable excitement. From not only sports fans, but collectors alike who are eager to own a rarified piece of history,” Wachter said.
"Yet again, today's record-breaking result, with an astounding 20 bids, solidifies Michael Jordan as the undisputed GOAT. Proving his name and incomparable legacy is just as relevant as it was nearly 25 years ago,” Wachter continued.
For more about the biggest auction sales of 2022, click here.