Michael Jordan’s 1998 Finals Jersey Fetches Record $14 Million

A rare piece of basketball history has set a new benchmark in the sports memorabilia market. On Monday, Hunt Auctions announced that the jersey worn by Michael Jordan during Game 2 of the 1998 NBA Finals—the season famously chronicled in the documentary "The Last Dance"—has been sold for $14 million. The buyer, Miami real estate investor Ron Firman, acquired the autographed Chicago Bulls garment through a private sale.The auction house confirmed that this sale represents the highest price ever paid for an item of basketball memorabilia. Furthermore, it currently holds the record as the second-most expensive game-worn sports jersey in history. The top position is held by a New York Yankees jersey worn by Babe Ruth during the 1932 World Series, which commanded a price of $24.12 million in 2024.The significance of the 1998 NBA Finals, during which the Chicago Bulls defeated the Utah Jazz in six games to secure their sixth championship, has driven immense interest among collectors. The specific jersey in question was worn by Jordan on June 5, 1998, in Salt Lake City. During that pivotal Game 2, Jordan delivered a masterclass performance, contributing 37 points, five rebounds, and three assists to lead the Bulls to a 93-88 victory, which allowed the team to level the series at 1-1.David Hunt, the president of Hunt Auctions, noted the cultural weight of the item in an official statement. He suggested that the record-setting price reflects Jordan’s status not just as an athlete, but as a cultural icon, likening the valuation of such sports artifacts to that of world-class art. According to Hunt, the jersey had a well-documented provenance, having been purchased from the Chicago Bulls by a private collector in 2003 and remaining in a stable chain of custody since then.This transaction marks the third instance in recent years where a jersey worn by Jordan during the 1998 Finals has reached or exceeded the $10 million threshold. A jersey from Game 1 was auctioned for approximately $10.1 million in 2022, while another from Game 3 sold for roughly $12.3 million just last month. These sales underscore the sustained demand for relics associated with the peak of Jordan’s career.The basketball legend’s final season with the Bulls continues to command premium attention across global markets. Beyond jerseys, other equipment from the 1998 Finals has attracted substantial sums. For example, a pair of Air Jordan sneakers worn by the superstar in the same Game 2 against the Jazz were sold by Sotheby’s for $2.2 million in 2023, setting what was at the time a record for the most valuable pair of sneakers ever sold.For the buyer, the acquisition represents both a personal achievement and an investment in history. "Michael Jordan was an incredibly talented player who is admired around the world," Firman stated following the purchase. Nine days after the game in which this jersey was worn, Jordan would go on to earn his sixth and final Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, further cementing the legendary status of the items associated with his concluding championship run in Chicago.