A Michael Jordan jersey from the 1998 NBA Finals has become the most expensive piece of game-worn memorabilia ever, selling for $10.09 million at auction on Thursday. The jersey was worn during Game 1 against the Utah Jazz, where Jordan played 45 minutes and scored 33 points, though the Bulls ultimately lost 88-85 in overtime.
The sale shattered previous records for game-worn sports items. The prior basketball jersey record was $3.7 million for a Kobe Bryant jersey, while the overall sports memorabilia record had been set earlier this year when Diego Maradona's 'Hand of God' jersey sold for $9.3 million. However, a Mickey Mantle baseball card sold for $12.6 million last month remains the most expensive piece of sports memorabilia ever.
The jersey, listed by Sotheby's with an estimated price between $3 million and $5 million, received 20 bids. It is the second of Jordan's Finals jerseys to appear at auction. Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to the 1998 championship in six games over the Jazz, a season that gained particular notoriety due to the 2020 documentary series 'The Last Dance', which chronicled the team's final year with its core players.
The sale was part of Sotheby's Invictus Part I collection, which also featured memorabilia from Serena Williams, Muhammad Ali, Dennis Rodman, and Wayne Gretzky.
