Most Expensive Sneakers Ever Sold! The Pair Worn By Jordan Fetched $2.2m
Sotheby's auction house announced that a pair of sneakers worn by NBA legend Michael Jordan during his final championship game with the Chicago Bulls in 1998 sold for a record $2.2 million on Tuesday.
"Another historic day at #SothebysNewYork! Michael Jordan’s 1998 NBA Finals Game 2 Air Jordan 13s from the famous ‘The Last Dance’ season sold for $2.2 million, setting a new world record for the most valuable sneakers ever sold," Sotheby's said in an official statement.
At this price, the former Bulls superstar cements his status as the most valuable athlete at auctions for sportswear memorabilia, breaking his own sneaker record ($1.4 million in 2021), while already holding a record for the most expensive jersey ever sold ($10.1 million in September 2022).
The $10.1 million sale of Michael Jordan's jersey from Game 1 of the 1998 NBA Finals in September 2022 beat a record held by Diego Maradona's "Hand of God" Argentina jersey.
The Most Expensive Sneakers Are Known As Bred
The sale set a new world record, topping the $1.8 million paid for a pair of Kanye West's sneakers.
"Today's record-breaking result further proves that the demand for Michael Jordan sports memorabilia continues to outperform and transcend all expectations," Brahm Wachter, Sotheby's head of streetwear and modern collectibles, said in a statement.
Tuesday's sale coincided with the release this month of the movie "Air," about Nike's pursuit of Jordan.
The sneakers are known as "Bred" for their black and red color. The player had worn them during Game 2 of the 1998 NBA Finals, in Salt Lake City, an episode recounted in the successful documentary "The Last Dance", released in 2020 on Netflix and ESPN.
According to the auction house, Michael Jordan had autographed the shoes and given them to a ball-boy after the game. Sotheby's did not immediately release any information about the buyer.
The Bulls won 93-88, thanks to Jordan's 37 points.
