Michael Jordan retired more than 20 years ago but is arguably a more popular figure today than even during his playing days. The craze around Jordan is unlike anything else, and the first Chicago Bulls jersey he wore during the preseason in 1984 has just sold for $4.21 million at Sotheby’s.
That purchase meant three of the five most expensive game-worn NBA jerseys are now Jordan’s. This one slots in at fifth, and it’s not even half the amount of the one at the top.
Unsurprisingly, Jordan occupies the top spot, too. The jersey he wore in Game 1 of the 1998 NBA Finals sold for $10.1 million in 2022. It’s the record price paid for an item of sports memorabilia.
At the second spot on the list is a jersey of the man widely considered to be the closest player to Jordan in terms of playstyle, Kobe Bryant. The jersey Bryant wore during his MVP ceremony in 2008 and signed was sold for $5.8 million in 2023.
The third entry on the list might surprise some, as the individual retired over 50 years ago. Wilt Chamberlain’s jersey from Games 2 and 5 of the 1972 NBA Finals shockingly sold for $4.9 million in 2023. The price certainly exceeded expectations by a lot, considering how much time has passed since Chamberlain’s career ended.
The fourth spot belongs to a Jordan jersey that he wore 17 times during the 1996-97 season. He had worn that jersey when Allen Iverson famously crossed him over, and it fetched $4.7 million at an auction in 2024.
This latest sale came close to getting the fourth spot. We do not know who purchased it, but they’ll surely hang on to it for a while. According to Cllct, this jersey was first sold at a Washington Bullets charity auction in 1984. An individual won it for $1,000 but did not pay, which meant the underbidder got it for just $800. Talk about a jump in price from then to now.
In case you’re wondering how no LeBron James jersey is in the top 5 at the moment, there is one that was close to making it. James’ jersey from Game 7 of the 2013 NBA Finals sold for $3.7 million in 2023.
That’s an iconic jersey, but there are better ones that could come up in the future. James’ jersey from Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals and the one in which he broke the all-time scoring record might well come close to the top spot someday.
Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We really appreciate your support.
