Michael Jordan’s jersey from Game 1 of the 1998 NBA Finals sold for a lot of money.
Like, a historical amount.
On Thursday, auction house Sotheby’s revealed that Jordan’s jersey from his “Last Dance” season sold for a whopping $10.1 million. That set a number of records, including the most money ever paid for a game-worn sports memorabilia item.
According to ESPN’s Dan Hajducky, the previous record was Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” jersey from the 1986 World Cup, which sold for $9.28 million. The record before that was a Babe Ruth jersey, which went for $5.64 million.
The most a basketball jersey had previously been sold for was $3.69 million, worn by Kobe Bryant during his rookie season.
“The season itself is his ‘magnum opus’ as an athlete, and a testament to him as a champion and competitor,” said Brahm Wachter, Sotheby’s head of streetwear and modern collectables. “Finals jerseys from Jordan are remarkably scant and the [1998] Finals are arguably the most coveted of them all.”
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. pic.twitter.com/7t8G98N5pW
— Sotheby’s (@Sothebys) September 15, 2022
What’s the significance of the 1998 NBA Finals to Michael Jordan?
The 1998 NBA Finals marked the last of six championships won by Jordan in his Hall of Fame career.
The Bulls lost Game 1 of the series in overtime but defeated the Jazz in four of the next five games to tie the bow on another three-peat. Jordan won his sixth Finals MVP award in the process with averages of 33.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.
Jordan delivered one of the best moments of his career in Game 6, coming up with a key steal late in the game and following it up with the game-winning jump shot.
Oh, and he finished that game with 45 points. Jordan really was something else.
Jordan retired for the second time following the 1998 NBA Finals.
Chicago’s 1997-98 season was the subject of “The Last Dance,” a 10-part documentary series co-produced by ESPN Films and Netflix. That documentary also set some records.
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