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A pair of Air Jordan sneakers worn by Michael Jordan during his championship wins has been sold at an auction for a record-breaking $8 million.
Six separate sneakers, worn by Jordan during his six victories in the NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s, were sold at auction as part of Sotheby’s “The Dynasty Collection”.
The auction house declared on Friday, February 2nd that the entire set was purchased for $8,032,800, breaking the previous global auction record for game-worn sneakers.
The set consists of an Air Jordan VI (1991), Air Jordan VII (1992), Air Jordan VIII (1993), Air Jordan XI (1996), Air Jordan XII (1997), and Air Jordan XIV (1998). Each sneaker is autographed by Jordan, and the lot includes signed limited photographs by Bill Smith taken after the 1992, 1993, 1996, and 1998 NBA Finals.
The auction house originally appraised the lot to be worth anywhere from $7 million to $10 million. Sotheby’s reports that a purchaser acquired the entire collection at their New York City venue for an astonishing price.
“Today’s record-breaking price is a testament to the GOAT,” said Sotheby’s head of modern collectibles, Brahm Wachter, in a press release. “The Dynasty Collection undeniably ranks among the most significant compilations of sports memorabilia in history. Serving as both a reminder of Michael Jordan’s lasting impact on the world and a tangible expression of his recognised legendary status, its significance is further validated by this monumental result.
“This sale marks a significant moment and achievement in auction history, as the six championship-winning sneakers are unlikely to be sold again,” he stated.
The Dynasty Collection can be viewed in Dubai until March 3rd.
This is not the initial instance of the iconic basketball player’s collectibles being sold for a significant sum. Jordan remains the holder of the record for the most expensive sports memorabilia worn during a game. In 2022, Sotheby’s auctioned off Jordan’s Chicago Bulls jersey, worn during Game One of the 1998 NBA Finals, for a record-breaking amount of $10.1 million (£8 million).
In August of last year, a signed set of his Nike Air Ships, which were worn prior to the famous Air Jordan release in 1985, was purchased for $624,000 (£493,944). Additionally, his Air Jordan 13s, worn during Game Two of the 1998 NBA Finals, were auctioned off for over $2.2 million (£1.8 million) in May 2023.
Source: independent.co.uk