Michael Jordan’s “Last Dance” Air Jordans may break report for costliest sneakers ever auctioned

A pair of Air Jordans worn by Michael Jordan in his final championship run with the Chicago Bulls is about to interrupt the report as the most costly sneakers ever auctioned, Sotheby’s stated Tuesday. 

The NBA legend wore the enduring Air Jordan 13s in Game 2 of the 1998 NBA Finals – Jordan’s “Last Dance” and closing season with the Bulls. In a information launch, Sotheby’s known as the footwear an “important relic from the height of Jordan’s career” and stated they’re among the many “most illustrious pieces of sports memorabilia to exist.” 

The public sale home stated “the historic Air Jordans are the most valuable sneakers to ever appear on the auction market, and are poised to eclipse the current auction record for a pair of sneakers.”

Bids for the sneakers will start in April. They are anticipated to be offered for between $2 million and $4 million. The sale of the footwear may beat out Kanye West’s Nike Air Yeezy 1s

The Air Jordan 13s – also called the Bred Air Jordans as a shorthand for the black and purple shade scheme – had been launched in May 1998, proper within the thick of Jordan’s postseason run with the Bulls. According to Sotheby’s, the sneakers had been among the many closing public releases of the Air Jordan model throughout his profession with the Bulls. 

After dropping in Game 1 of the NBA Finals that 12 months, Jordan wore the footwear within the second half of Game 2 and helped the Bulls beat the Utah Jazz on the Delta Center by scoring 37 points, Sotheby’s stated. Following the sport, he gave the sneakers to a ball boy who maintained the guests’ locker room and signed them as thanks for his providers, in line with the public sale home. Jordan and the Bulls gained their sixth championship quickly after.

Braham Wachter, Sotheby’s head of streetwear and fashionable collectables, stated in a press release that objects from Jordan’s basketball profession proceed to draw important curiosity. 

“Michael Jordan game-worn sports memorabilia has proven time-and-time again to be the most elite and coveted items on the market… Worn in his final year with the Bulls, the iconic Air Jordans coming to auction this April will be sure to excite the collector community and sports fans in this most important Jordan Year,” stated Wachter, who made a nod to Jordan’s No. 23 jersey.

Last 12 months, a jersey worn by Jordan throughout Game 1 of the 1998 Finals offered for $10.1 million.