New York: A Michael Jordan jersey worn during the 1998 NBA Finals has sold for $12.3 million (£9.3 million), setting a new auction record for Jordan memorabilia.
The jersey was worn during Game 3 of the Finals in Jordan’s final season with the Chicago Bulls. Jordan led the Bulls to a 4-2 series victory over the Utah Jazz, securing the sixth and final NBA championship of his career.
Jordan was named Finals Most Valuable Player in all six of the Bulls’ championship victories, making items from the 1998 championship run particularly valuable among collectors.
The latest sale surpassed the previous record for Jordan memorabilia, which was set by another jersey worn during Game 1 of the 1998 NBA Finals. That jersey sold for $10.1 million (£7.6 million).
Entrepreneur Ryan Gough offered the latest jersey for sale through Joopiter, the digital auction house founded by musician and entrepreneur Pharrell Williams. The auction house had estimated the jersey would sell for between $10 million and $15 million.
Joopiter described the item as one of the most important game-worn sports artifacts to reach the market, highlighting its connection to Jordan’s ‘Last Dance’ season with the Bulls.
Jordan’s final championship season has become one of the most celebrated periods in basketball history. The 1998 Bulls team later received renewed attention through the documentary series ‘The Last Dance’, which followed the team’s final championship campaign and Jordan’s role as its leading player.
The auction also featured Jordan’s 1997 Ferrari 550 Maranello, which sold for $2.7 million (£2 million). The price was reportedly four times the previous auction record for that model.
Despite the new record for Jordan memorabilia, the jersey did not surpass the overall record for game-worn sports memorabilia. That record belongs to a jersey worn by baseball legend Babe Ruth during the 1932 World Series, which sold for $24.1 million (£18.2 million) in 2024.
The latest sale highlights the continued demand for memorabilia connected to Jordan’s championship career and the enduring commercial value of iconic sporting history.
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