A Michael Jordan jersey from game three of the 1998 NBA Finals sold for $12.3 million, setting a new record for a piece of Jordan memorabilia. The jersey was worn during Jordan’s final season with the Chicago Bulls, a campaign immortalised by the documentary series The Last Dance.
The jersey, auctioned by Joopiter, Pharrell Williams’ digital auction house, exceeded its estimated price range of $10 million to $15 million. It was originally put up for sale by entrepreneur Ryan Gough. The previous record for Jordan memorabilia was $10.1 million, paid for his jersey from game one of the same Finals series.
Jordan led the Bulls to a 4-2 series win over the Utah Jazz to claim his sixth NBA Championship. He was named Finals Most Valuable Player in all six of those championship runs. The 1998 Finals represented the end of an era for the Bulls and arguably for Jordan’s career in Chicago.
Joopiter described the jersey as “few objects in the history of sport embody greatness as completely,” emphasising its connection to the “Last Dance” season, which transformed basketball into a global cultural phenomenon. The auction house added that the jersey is “among the most important game-worn sports artifacts ever to come to market.”
While this sale sets a record for Jordan memorabilia, it falls short of the highest price paid for any game-worn sports jersey. That title belongs to the jersey worn by baseball legend Babe Ruth when he “called the shot” during the 1932 World Series, which sold for $24.1 million earlier in 2024.
Jordan’s 1998 Finals jerseys have become highly valuable collectibles, partly driven by the renewed interest in his career from The Last Dance documentary. This latest sale reflects the ongoing appeal of Jordan’s legacy in sports and popular culture.
The auction of the game three jersey has caught the attention of collectors and sports fans worldwide, illustrating the strong market for iconic sports memorabilia. The record-breaking sale confirms Michael Jordan’s enduring status as a cultural and sporting icon decades after his final NBA championship.
According to BBC Sports.