Is it even Michael Jordan memorabilia if its value is not up in the stratosphere? From cards to jerseys and those recognizable Jumpman sneakers, a sprinkle of his legacy is enough to jack up the value. That’s how every Air Jordan auction seems to top the previous one. The proof is in the pudding of the past 12 months alone. His sneakers that were on the auction block – discounting the jerseys, cards, and other memorabilia – alone fetched almost $13 million in 2023 and the first quarter of 2024.
Off the court, Jordan’s sneakers have broken records the way he did in his heyday in the past year. These aren’t just collector’s value. The higher a limited edition/signed/game-worn sneaker sells, the more Air Jordans became valuable in the retail end, too. In short, Michael Jordan proves he’s the revolutionary of sneaker culture from these auctions alone.
1. Michael Jordan’s 1996 Finals sneakers – $482,600
The sneakers that His Airness wore in Game 5 of the 1996 NBA Finals were sold on April 12, 2024, for a record $482,600 at Sotheby’s. Game-worn, the Finals, coming out of retirement, the start of a second three-peat, these are only some of the factors to make up the hefty price. It’s a tad lower than past sales because Game 5 was insignificant as the Bulls lost to Seattle in that game. They won the championship in Game 6.
2. Fifth career game shoes – $624,000
In September 2023, the shoes that the then NBA rookie signed under Nike wore, sold for $624,000. Goldin Auctions said that the autographed shoes received a winning bid of $520,000. But it was bumped by $100k due to the buyer’s premium to cover auction costs. He wore the Nike Air Ships at the start of his 1984 season till the Air Jordan officially hit the market and enjoyed unprecedented sales.
Jordan wore them at his fifth NBA game when he played against Denver. The Nuggets ball boy asked for the shoes after the shootaround. While Jordan initially refused because they were “too expensive,” he had a change of heart and gave them to him signed after the game. One of the shoes contains, “My very best to TJ Michael Jordan.”
3. ‘Flu Game’ Jordan XII – $1.38 million
2023 was called the Jordan Year because of the #23 reference. But it also added some sparkle to Air Jordan auctions. Then a five-time MVP, the Black Cat wore black and red Jordan XII to Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals. They sold for an eye-popping $1.38 million in June 2023. The reason is the ‘flu game’ infamy. A very sick Jordan torched the Utah Jazz with 38 points on his end alone and the Bulls won 90-88. He gave the shoes to a Utah ball boy then.
In the wake of the Last Dance’s popularity, that ball boy sold the shoes for $200,000. It was resold again before being auctioned last year for over a million dollars.
4. Michael Jordan sneakers lot – $8,320,800
It’s called the Dynasty Collection for a reason. Eight sneakers from all six of Jordan’s NBA Finals wins were sold as a package in February 2024. The collective price was – clutch your pearls – $8.3 million. The collection included AJ VI (1991), VII (1992), VIII (1993), XI (1996), XII (1997), and XIV (1998).
It’s said that Jordan gifted the 1991 pair to publicist Tim Hallam and continued the practice every Finals appearance for superstitious beliefs. The same auction had a limited edition autographed picture of the Jumpman himself.
5. “The Last Dance” Air Jordan 13 – $2.2 Million
Another Last Dance reference spruced the price of a pair of AJ13s he wore in the 1998 Finals. They went for $2.2 million in April 2023, surpassing the record for the most valuable sneakers ever sold.
Again he was up against the Utah Jazz who couldn’t get the flu game redemption. The black and red sneakers were among the final public releases by the Jumpman.
Honorary mentions go to the “Glass Shard” Air Jordan 1 that sold for $615,000 (2020), the Game-Worn Air Jordan 1 worth $560,000 (2019), “Broken Foot” Air Jordan 1 worth $422,130 (2022), and the Space Jam Air Jordan 11 worth $176,000 (2021).
