From the 'Last Dance' to an Auction at $15 Million.. Will Michael Jordan's Jersey Break the Record?

- A shirt worn by American basketball legend Michael Jordan during one of the most famous moments of his career is heading to auction, with expectations that it will break the record and become the most expensive basketball shirt ever sold at auction. The white mesh shirt bears Jordan's iconic number "23" and was worn during the third game of the 1998 NBA Finals, in his last season with the "Chicago Bulls," known as "The Last Dance," which was later documented in a famous documentary series produced by "ESPN" and "Netflix" in 2020.

During that matchup against the American team "Utah Jazz," Jordan delivered a decisive performance in front of Chicago fans, contributing to his team's advantage in the series before leading the "Bulls" to clinch their sixth title in eight seasons. The historical value of the shirt increases with its rarity; the auction house "Jopiter" confirms that it is the only known white shirt available for sale from the shirts Jordan wore during the 1998 Finals, making it one of the most rare and valuable possessions of the basketball legend.

"Jopiter" emphasizes that the importance of the shirt goes beyond its statistics and numbers on the court, estimating its auction value to range between 10 and 15 million dollars, in a deal that could enter it into the history of sports memorabilia. For her part, Caitlin Donovan, the global head of sales at the auction platform, describes the shirt as "a piece that collectors have been waiting to acquire their whole lives," affirming that its value transcends the boundaries of basketball, as it is a rare artifact that embodies a pivotal moment in global cultural history.

The "Driven to Greatness" auction will kick off online on September 15 and will continue until the 29th, amid anticipation for what could be a new record in the sports memorabilia market. If the shirt exceeds its minimum estimate of 10 million dollars, it will set a new record to become the most expensive basketball shirt ever sold at auction, surpassing the current record held by another shirt worn by Michael Jordan during the first game of the same Finals.

In 2022, the red shirt worn by Jordan during that matchup, which ended in a loss for the "Chicago Bulls," was sold for 10.1 million dollars, exceeding initial estimates by more than double. The year before, another shirt worn by Jordan during his second season with the University of North Carolina broke an auction record, reaching a price of 1.38 million dollars.

The current record for the most expensive sports collectible sold at auction is held by the jersey of baseball legend Babe Ruth, famously known as the "Called Shot," which was sold in 2024 for $24.12 million. Ruth wore the jersey during the third game of the 1932 World Series when he appeared to point to a specific area in the field before hitting a ball in the fifth inning that landed in the stands, an incident that later became one of the most famous stories in baseball history.

However, Jordan continues to solidify his status as one of the most famous athletes and appealing to collectors, as sales of his electronic collectibles consistently surpass those of many of today's top sports stars. According to Gemrate, a platform specializing in tracking trading card valuations and sales, eBay users spent over $88 million on Jordan cards this year alone, surpassing all current and former NBA players, with only baseball star Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers ahead of him on this list.