At an auction held Tuesday by Sotheby’s, a pair of sneakers referred to as the “Last Dance” worn by Chicago Bulls star Michael Jordan in his final NBA finals in 1998 became the most expensive pair of sneakers in history. This particular pair, was the final pair of Air Jordan XIII Breds (shorthand for “black and red”) that “Michael would ever lace up in an NBA game.” He wore them in game two of the 1998 NBA Finals was sold for a record $2.2 million. Sotheby’s had initially estimated the value of the shoes between 2 and 4 million dollars.
At this price, the former Bulls superstar confirms his status as the auction king for collectible sportswear, breaking his own record for sneakers ($1.4 million in 2021). He also holds the record for the most expensive jersey ($10.1 million in September 2022), with the sale of one of those he also wore during his last NBA title win in 1998.
Mr. Jordan scored 37 points in the game and led the Bulls to a 93-88 win over the Utah Jazz. He went on to win his sixth and final NBA Championship and was named the Finals MVP. Sotheby’s said Mr. Jordan gifted the sneakers to a Jazz ball boy after the game as thanks for finding a lost jacket. They were the final pair of Breds that Mr. Jordan wore in a game.
They are the only complete pair of sneakers worn by Mr. Jordan in an NBA Finals game that have been photo-matched and authenticated by the MeiGray Group, the official authenticator of the NBA, the auctioneers added.
At this price, the former Bulls superstar confirms his status as the auction king for collectible sportswear, breaking his own record for sneakers ($1.4 million in 2021). He also holds the record for the most expensive jersey ($10.1 million in September 2022), with the sale of one of those he also wore during his last NBA title win in 1998.