Michael Jordan's 1st Game-Worn Bulls Jersey Sells for $4.2M at Auction
Michael Jordan's first-ever game-worn Chicago Bulls Jersey has sold for $4.21 million at auction via Sotheby's, with the lot closing just after 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday.
Per Will Stern of Clict, it is among the top three Jordan jerseys to ever sell publicly. No. 1 is Jordan's jersey worn in Game 1 of the 1998 NBA Finals, which sold for $10.1 million in 2022.
Sotheby's provided more details on the jersey.
"This jersey represents the only photomatched game worn jersey from Michael’s rookie season to ever surface at auction. It has been photomatched by MeiGray and Sports Investors Authenticated. The signature is accompanied by a letter from James Spence Authentication.
"The jersey has been photo-matched by SIA to October 7, 1984 (Jordan's 2nd NBA game) and by MeiGray to October 13, 1984 (Jordan's 4th NBA game). MeiGray, working in close association with a forensic analysis firm called Proven Data, examined video footage from October 5, 1984 (Jordan's 1st NBA game) and have stated in their letter, "MeiGray believes that this is the first jersey Michael Jordan ever wore while playing in the NBA."
Jordan's first-ever preseason game occurred on Oct. 5, 1984 against the Indiana Pacers in Peoria, Illinois. He scored 18 points in 29 minutes in a 102-98 victory.
Stern provided some history on the jersey's travels. The Bulls donated it to the Washington Bullets (now Wizards) for a charity auction in 1985, when it sold for $800. That was sold to an underbidder, as the original winner, who bid $1,000, never ended up paying for the jersey.
The collector held onto it until 2009, when it sold for $66,000 at auction.
Now that owner is striking it rich with this monster deal 16 years later.
Jordan had a tremendous rookie season en route to being considered one of the greatest athletes in world history, averaging 28.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 2.4 steals. He won Rookie of the Year and finished sixth in the NBA MVP race as well.
