A white mesh jersey bearing Michael Jordan’s iconic number 23 is set to go under the hammer in a September online auction. The garment was worn by Jordan during Game 3 of the 1998 NBA Finals, the final championship series of the Chicago Bulls’ celebrated “Last Dance” era.
Why the jersey matters
The 1998 Finals matchup against the Utah Jazz is remembered for Jordan’s clutch performance that helped swing the series in Chicago’s favor. The game‑winning jersey is the only publicly known white game‑winning jersey from that series that has become available for sale, making it an exceptionally rare piece of sports history, according to Joopiter, the auction platform handling the sale.
Auction details
Joopiter estimates the lot will fetch between $10 million and $15 million. Caitlin Donovan, Joopiter’s global head of sales, described the item as an “irreplaceable artifact that transcends basketball to become a piece of global cultural history.” The “Driven to Greatness” auction runs from September 15 through September 29.
Potential record
If the jersey sells above the low estimate, it would become the most expensive basketball jersey ever sold, surpassing a previous record set by another Jordan jersey from Game 1 of the same finals, which sold for $10.1 million in 2022. That earlier sale more than doubled its initial estimate.
Jordan’s memorabilia market
Jordan’s memorabilia continues to dominate the market. In 2021, a jersey he wore during his sophomore season at the University of North Carolina set an auction record at $1.38 million. E‑Bay users have spent over $88 million on Jordan playing cards this year alone, outpacing sales of cards featuring any other current or former NBA player, according to tracking site Gemrate.
Comparison with other sports collectibles
The current record for the most expensive sports collectible is held by Babe Ruth’s “Called Shot” jersey, which sold for $24.12 million in 2024. While Jordan’s jersey is unlikely to eclipse that figure, it would still mark a historic high for basketball memorabilia.
Collectors and fans alike will be watching the September auction closely, as the sale underscores the lasting cultural impact of Jordan’s career and the enduring value placed on iconic moments in American sports.
Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.
