- Michael Jordan’s collection of sneakers worn during the Bulls’ six NBA championship wins has sold for a record-breaking $8 million at auction, solidifying his status as a legendary figure in the sneaker world.
- The six pairs of Air Jordan shoes represent each championship series from 1991 to 1998 and were acquired from a private American collector.
- Jordan’s impact extends beyond the court, as he revolutionized the athletic shoe industry and continues to set auction records with his memorabilia, including his game-worn sneakers and jerseys.
Additional Coverage:
A collection of sneakers worn by basketball star Michael Jordan during the Chicago Bulls’ six NBA championship victories has been sold at auction for a staggering $8 million, setting a new record for game-worn sneakers. Sotheby’s, the auction house responsible for the sale, referred to the collection as the “Dynasty Collection” and announced the successful bid on Friday.
The six pairs of Air Jordan shoes consisted of one pair from each of the championship series in 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, and 1998. According to Sotheby’s, this collection serves as a reminder of Michael Jordan’s profound impact on the world and solidifies his status as a legendary figure in the sneaker world. Brahm Wachter, who oversees modern collectibles for Sotheby’s, expressed his satisfaction with the result and emphasized the significance of the collection.
The name of the buyer has not been disclosed, and the seller is described simply as “a private American collector” who acquired the sneakers from a longtime Bulls executive. Sotheby’s revealed that Jordan began the tradition of giving a single sneaker to the executive after each championship-winning game. The auction lot included photographs of Jordan celebrating his victories while wearing the corresponding sneakers.
Michael Jordan, a five-time league MVP and two-time Olympic gold medalist, is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. In 1992, then-NBA Commissioner David Stern hailed Jordan as “the standard by which basketball excellence is measured.” His impact extended beyond the court as he revolutionized the athletic shoe industry and played a major role in shaping sneaker culture through his partnership with Nike to create the iconic Air Jordans in the mid-1980s.
This is not the first time Michael Jordan’s sneakers have fetched a significant sum at auction. The pair he wore in the second game of the 1998 NBA Finals set a record last April when it sold for $2.2 million. The highest auction price for any Jordan memorabilia to date is $10.1 million for his jersey from the first game of that championship series, which Sotheby’s sold in 2022.
In addition to his sneakers, even an unused ticket to Jordan’s debut game with the Bulls in 1984 garnered considerable attention. It was sold through Heritage Auctions in 2022 for a remarkable $468,000, which was more than 55,000 times its face value.