Michael Jordan: 1998 NBA Finals jersey sold for $12.3 million

A Michael Jordan jersey worn during his final season with the Chicago Bulls was sold for 12.3 million dollars, approximately 10.5 million euros, setting a new record for an memorabilia belonging to the basketball legend.

The shirt was worn by Jordan in game 3 of the 1998 NBA finals against the Utah Jazz, the season of the famous 'Last Dance'. Jordan led the Bulls to a 4-2 series victory, winning the sixth and final NBA title of his career and being named Finals MVP for the sixth time. In that match, the first played in Chicago in the series after the 1-1 draw in the first two games in Salt Lake City, the Bulls outclassed their opponents, driven by 24 points from their star wearing number 23.

The previous record for a Jordan memorabilia belonged to another shirt worn in the same series, that of game 1, sold in 2022 for 10.1 million dollars, approximately 8.6 million euros. The shirt was auctioned by entrepreneur Ryan Gough and sold through Joopiter, the digital auction house founded by Pharrell Williams, who estimated the value of the piece at between 10 and 15 million dollars. A 1997 Ferrari 550 Maranello that belonged to Jordan was also sold at the same auction, selling for 2.7 million dollars, approximately 2.3 million euros, four times the previous record for that model.

“Few objects in the history of sports embody greatness as completely as Michael Jordan's Game 3 jersey in the 1998 NBA Finals,” Joopiter said. The absolute record for a sports memorabilia worn during a game, however, remains that of Babe Ruth's jersey from the 1932 World Series - the seventh and final triumph in his legendary career, the fourth with the New York Yankees - sold in 2024 for 24.1 million dollars, approximately 20.5 million euros.