A Chicago Bulls jersey worn by basketball icon Michael Jordan during the 1998 NBA Finals has sold for an astonishing $12.26 million at auction. The monumental sale sets a new global benchmark for Michael Jordan memorabilia and stands as the most expensive game-worn NBA jersey ever sold. The historic white mesh jersey was worn during Game 3 of the 1998 NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz, a matchup the Bulls won in a dominant 96-54 blowout.
The 1998 NBA Finals, immortalized in the popular documentary series “The Last Dance,” culminated in Jordan leading the Bulls to a 4-2 series victory. It secured his sixth and final NBA championship, as well as his record sixth Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. The recent sale completely shatters the previous record for Jordan memorabilia. In 2022, Jordan’s red jersey from Game 1 of the exact same 1998 Finals sold for $10.091 million.
Entrepreneur Ryan Gough facilitated the sale of the Game 3 jersey through Joopiter, a digital auction house founded by acclaimed musician and designer Pharrell Williams. Prior to the closing of the auction, experts had estimated the historic piece would sell for somewhere between $10 million and $15 million. “Few objects in the history of sport embody greatness as completely as Michael Jordan’s game three jersey from the 1998 NBA Finals,” Joopiter representatives stated in the official auction listing.
The physical piece features the iconic 1998 NBA Finals Championship patch stitched onto the chest, which is widely celebrated by high-end sports collectors. The auction house further noted that the pristine jersey stands among the most culturally and historically important game-worn sports artifacts ever to surface on the open market.
Jordan’s memorabilia continues to command staggering prices at elite auctions worldwide. Following the jersey sale, his personal 1997 Ferrari 550 Maranello—which he drove during his final years in Chicago—also hit the Joopiter auction block. A similar model previously sold for $2.7 million, four times the prior auction record for that specific car.
However, despite this record-breaking sale for basketball, Jordan’s legendary jersey does not currently hold the title for the most expensive game-worn sports memorabilia overall. That ultimate distinction still belongs to baseball legend Babe Ruth. His iconic jersey, associated with his famous “called shot” during the 1932 World Series, sold for an unmatched $24.1 million earlier in 2024.
The sale of the jersey is a testament to the enduring popularity of Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. The team's success in the 1990s, led by Jordan, helped to popularize the NBA globally. The jersey's sale is also a reflection of the growing market for sports memorabilia, with many collectors willing to pay top dollar for rare and historic items.
Key points
- The jersey sold for $12.26 million, setting a new record for the most expensive game-worn NBA jersey ever sold.
- The jersey was worn by Michael Jordan during Game 3 of the 1998 NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz.
- The sale was facilitated by entrepreneur Ryan Gough through Joopiter, a digital auction house founded by Pharrell Williams.
