New record for Michael Jordan
Six different Nike Air Jordan sneakers worn in the 1990s by American basketball legend Michael Jordan were auctioned on Friday for eight million dollars, a record for this unique lot, according to Sotheby’s.
A unique gift from Michael Jordan
These are six separate shoes (not three pairs) that Michael Jordan gave to a Chicago Bulls communications executive, Tim Hallam, after each of his decisive matches that allowed the club to win six NBA championships from 1991 to 1993 and 1996 to 1998.
Record for Michael Jordan shoes
Eight million dollars was the highest purchase price ever achieved for collectible sports items and a record for this unusual lot at Sotheby's in New York for Michael Jordan.
The identity of the buyer remains a mystery
This "Dynasty Collection" has reached the "peak" prices of these sporting collectibles, Sotheby’s congratulated in a statement without giving, as usual, information on the buyer of this lot.
The 1998 auction compared to 2024
Last April, the company of Franco-Israeli tycoon Patrick Drahi auctioned off a pair of sneakers worn by Jordan in his last championship final in 1998 with the Chicago Bulls for $2.2 million.
Six models of shoes sold
The six shoes sold on Friday are Air Jordan VI (1991), VII (1992), VIII (1993), XI (1996), XII (1997), and Air Jordan XIV (1998).
An anecdote from the 1993 final
Sotheby’s recounts in its press release, a photo in support of 1993: at each victorious final, "by celebrating with cigars, champagne or by calling his relatives, it was clear that Jordan was missing a shoe".
A trend confirmed since 2020
For auction houses of works of art like Sotheby’s, Christie’s, or Julian’s, the appetite of buyers since 2020-2021 for objects from the heritage of sport and music has raised prices
Michael Jordan ahead of Diego Maradona
The record for the most expensive jersey in the history of the auction is already for a tunic by Michael Jordan, worn during his 1998 final ($10.1 million in September 2022), in front of the jersey of Argentine footballer Diego Maradona, in the quarterfinals against England at the 1986 World Cup (9.3 million in May 2022).