What do you think is the finest testament to Michael Jordan‘s greatness? It might be a quality almost impossible to quantify, or it could be as simple as his possessions fetching millions of dollars at auctions, due to his star power. Recently the Jordan sneakers that MJ wore during his six championship runs have brought in a mammoth $8 million from an auction. This breaks the record for the most expensive game-worn sneakers ever sold off.
The story behind how the collection was taken from the hands of the Chicago Bulls legend is an interesting one too. MJ had made a promise to the Bulls PR executive that he would give him one of his shoes after they win a championship.
The 6x NBA champion kept the tradition going six times and that is how PR executive Tim Hallam ended up with those six shoes. Sotheby’s head of modern collectibles Brahm Wachter said, “Today’s record-breaking price is a testament to the GOAT. The Dynasty Collection undeniably ranks among the most significant compilations of sports memorabilia in history. [A] truly unparalleled moment and milestone in auction history, the sale of these six championship-clinching sneakers will likely never be replicated”.
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Sotheby’s has auctioned the full set of Michael Jordan’s Finals-clinching shoes for $8 Million — a new record for a sneaker auction. pic.twitter.com/2SEG1GtCMj
— Nick DePaula (@NickDePaula) February 2, 2024
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Michael Jordan’s Dynasty collection
Jordan’s promise to Hallam soon became part of a superstition and as a token, one shoe from all the six championships that the Bulls won were handed to him. The timeless collection consists of 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). While this is already a dream collection for anyone who is a fan of the sport, its history, the Bulls, MJ, or even sneakers, there is something that makes it a bit more special. The Air Jordans’ VI, VIII, XI, and XII were also autographed by the Bulls legend.
While over $8 million is a record for sneakers that have ever been auctioned, the record for the highest amount received in a bid also belongs to Jordan. The Last Dance memorabilia surpasses the $8 million. Jordan’s 1998 NBA Finals Game 1 jersey was auctioned off for $10.1 million by Sotheby’s in September 2022. To this day, it remains the most expensive game-worn memorabilia ever sold. Now, MJ has both the number one and number two spot on this list. Greatness truly follows him wherever he goes, whatever he does.
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