Google News Legendary Michael Jordan's Sneakers Could Break Auction Records at Sotheby's
by FARUK IMAMOVIC | VIEW 441
Michael Jordan's 1998 NBA Finals Nike Air Jordan III sneakers, which he famously gave to a boy after the game between the Utah Jazz and the Chicago Bulls, are up for auction at Sotheby's in New York. The pair of sneakers signed by the legendary basketball player could potentially break the current record, with an estimated value between 2 and 4 million dollars.
It is the only complete pair of sneakers worn by Jordan in his six NBA Finals that are currently available on the market, making them highly desirable
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The most recent auction sale of a pair of Michael Jordan's sneakers was in 2019 when the Nike Air Ships, worn by Jordan in 1984, sold for nearly $1.5 million.
Jared Goldstein, an attorney and co-author of "Sneaker Law," explains that the Air Jordan III could fetch more than double that price. He notes, "Black-and-red "Bred" Air Jordan 13s are already coveted sneakers, but the fact that Jordan wore this particular pair for his final shots of Game 2 of his last championship series? There's no doubt, with all those elements in mind, that's going to be the most expensive sneaker ever sold." The resale of sneakers has become a lucrative business, and auction houses are eagerly anticipating the Sotheby's auction from April 3 until April 11, which will coincide with the release of "Air," a film starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck chronicling Nike's courtship of Jordan during his rookie season.
The previous sales record was in 2021, when Sotheby's sold a pair of Jordan's Nike Air Ships to collector Nick Fiorella for $1,472,000. The sneakers, which Jordan wore during regular season games in 1984, were decorated with a combination of white and red colors and were also signed.
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In 2020, Christie's sold a pair of 1985 Nike Air Jordan 1 High for $615,000. Nevertheless, the upcoming Sotheby's auction is set to shatter records, especially since the pair of Air Jordan 13s are the most valuable, according to Goldstein.
If Jordan's Air Jordan 14s that he wore during his iconic game-winning jumper in the sixth and final game of the 1997-1998 season were to go on sale, they would also fetch a record price, Goldstein adds. Jordan's 1998 NBA Finals Nike Air Jordan III sneakers are highly coveted and set to break auction records.
The sneakers' value is elevated by the fact that they were worn by Jordan during his final shots of Game 2 of his last championship series, making them a highly sought-after item for collectors and sneaker enthusiasts alike.
