A Michael Jordan game-worn, autographed Chicago Bulls jersey from Game 2 of the 1998 NBA Finals sold for $14 million in a private treaty sale, setting a new record for basketball memorabilia. The sale was announced by Hunt Auctions, which arranged the deal and identified the buyer as Ron Firman, a Miami real estate investor.
This jersey surpasses the $12.5 million paid for Jordan’s Game 3 jersey from the same NBA Finals series, famously known as the "Last Dance." It is now the highest price ever paid for any NBA jersey and the second-highest for a game-worn sports jersey overall, behind only a Babe Ruth 1932 World Series Yankees jersey that fetched $24.1 million two years ago.
David Hunt, president of Hunt Auctions, said, "In our opinion, and 36 years of market experience, Babe Ruth and Michael Jordan stand above all others in the history of American sports." He added that Jordan’s significance in the sports memorabilia market has grown into an elite asset class usually reserved for iconic works of art. Hunt Auctions also provided details on the jersey’s chain of custody, noting it changed hands only once since 2003 from the original purchaser.
Firman commented on the acquisition, stating, "Michael Jordan was an incredibly talented player who is admired around the world. I'm very excited about the purchase."
The jersey’s value is closely tied to its association with the 1998 NBA Finals, where Jordan and the Chicago Bulls defeated the Utah Jazz to win their sixth NBA title. The series concluded with Jordan’s iconic pull-up jumper, often referred to as "the last shot," a moment etched into basketball history.
The demand for Jordan-related memorabilia, especially items connected to the 1997-98 season, remains exceptionally strong. The private sale demonstrates the continuing enthusiasm among collectors and investors for rare pieces of sports history linked to Jordan’s career.
Hunt Auctions handled the transaction discreetly, adding to the exclusivity of the sale. The record price reflects not only Jordan’s impact on basketball but also the shifting dynamics of the collectibles market where sports memorabilia can reach values comparable to fine art.
This sale follows a trend of escalating prices for high-profile sports artifacts, driven by a global collector base and increasing interest in investing in physical assets with cultural significance. The Jordan jersey’s $14 million price confirms its status as one of the most coveted items in the sports memorabilia world.
According to Yahoo Sports.
