The 1997-1998 season was the last Michael Jordan played for the Chicago Bulls and has been referred to as his 'Last Dance' season, as chronicled in the 2020 ESPN/Netflix documentary. Now, the Nike Air Jordans Jordan wore during Game 2 of the 1998 NBA Finals have just set a new record for the world's most expensive sneakers, selling for $2.2 million (around £1.7 million) at Sotheby's VICTORIAM sports auction on 11 April. Known as Bred Air Jordans for their colours (black and red, the Bulls colours), these sneakers nearly doubled the previous record, held by a pair of Jordan's Nike Air Ships that sold for $1.4 million in 2021.
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These shoes were worn by Jordan in Game 2 of the NBA Finals in 1998 when the Bulls squared off against the Utah Jazz, ultimately defeating them narrowly 93 to 88 with Jordan scoring 37 points. The Chicago Bulls went on to win the NBA Championship that year, and Jordan received the NBA Most Valuable Player Award for his fifth and last time. After the game, Jordan signed and gave the sneakers to the ball boy who had asked for them.
See also: The Emerging Category of Rare Sneakers
"Today’s record-breaking result further proves that the demand for Michael Jordan sports memorabilia continues to outperform and transcend all expectations," said Brahm Wachter, Sotheby's Head of Streetwear and Modern Collectibles. "Sotheby’s is extremely proud to hold the world record for most valuable game-worn sports memorabilia at auction and the most valuable sneakers ever sold, both of which – to no surprise – are directly tied to the global icon, Michael Jordan."
See also: Nine-Figure Sum for Michael Jordan's Jersey
Memorabilia from Jordan's Last Dance season is highly sought after at auction. Last year, Michael Jordan's game-worn jersey in the first game of the 1998 Finals sold for a record-breaking $10.1 million (£8.9 million) at Sotheby's.
