Michael Jordan remains a dominant force in sports memorabilia, even years after retiring from the NBA. A jersey worn by Jordan during the 1998 NBA Finals has been sold for an impressive $14 million in a private transaction. This jersey, from the Finals featured in the documentary “The Last Dance,” now stands as the most expensive basketball memorabilia sold.
Hunt Auctions, a company based in Pennsylvania, announced the sale, confirming that Miami’s real estate investor Ron Firman purchased the jersey. The jersey is famous for being worn during Game 2 when the Chicago Bulls tied the series against the Utah Jazz. The Bulls eventually secured their sixth championship in eight seasons. This victory marked a significant achievement in Jordan’s career.
David Hunt, president of Hunt Auctions, highlighted Jordan’s influence in the sports memorabilia market, likening the value of his items to iconic artworks.
The $14 million transaction ranks as the second-highest price ever paid for a game-worn jersey in any sport. Babe Ruth’s 1932 “called shot” World Series jersey still holds the record at $24.12 million.
Remarkably, this is the third jersey from the 1998 Finals sold for over $10 million. Jordan’s Game 1 jersey fetched about $10.1 million in 2022, and his Game 3 jersey was purchased for around $12.3 million in September. Together, these jerseys total more than $36 million from the championship series.
Beyond jerseys, the fascination with Jordan’s last championship season extends to other memorabilia. In April 2023, Air Jordans worn during Game 2 of the Finals were sold by Sotheby’s for $2.2 million, becoming the most expensive sneakers at the time.
Though Jordan retired nearly 30 years ago, collectors invest substantial amounts to own pieces from his career. Jordan’s memorabilia consistently establishes new records, cementing his status as the greatest of all time both on and off the court.