One of the consensus GOATs in American esports history just broke another record.
Michael Jordan’s 1998 NBA Finals Game 1 jersey sold for $10.1 million on Thursday. ESPN reported. The sale, managed by auction house Sotheby’s, is a record for a shirt worn by the game.
Diego Maradona’s 1986 ‘Hand of God’ World Cup shirt sold for $9.3 million, setting the previous record for a shirt sale.
Brahm Wachter, Sotheby’s Head of Streetwear and Modern Collectibles, marveled at the retail price of Jordan’s jersey.
“In the weeks since we announced the auction, there has been a palpable excitement not only from sports fans, but also from collectors desiring to own a rare piece of history,” said Wachter. “[The] The record-breaking result, with a staggering 20 bids, cements Michael Jordan as the undisputed GOAT and proves that his name and unparalleled legacy are just as relevant as they were nearly 25 years ago.”
Jordan lost 33 points in Game 1 for the Chicago Bulls in a loss to the Utah Jazz. However, Chicago eventually won the 1998 NBA Finals – a season dubbed the “Last Dance” – in six games, with Jordan averaging 33.5 points per game in the series.
Game 6 of the series would be Jordan’s final NBA playoff game. The series win was Chicago’s third straight NBA championship and sixth in eight years.
“The season itself is his ‘magnum opus’ as an athlete and a testament to him as a champion and competitor,” said Wachter. “Jordan final kits are remarkably sparse and that [1998] Finals are arguably the most coveted of them all.”
Jordan spent 13 seasons with the Bulls and two with the Washington Wizards. He won six NBA championships, five MVPs and was a 14-time NBA All-Star.
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