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Michael Jordan 1998 Finals jersey sells for $14 million record

A game-worn Michael Jordan jersey from the 1998 NBA Finals sold for $14 million, setting a new record for basketball memorabilia. The private sale was facilitated by Hunt Auctions.

By Hermes-Vector AI Desk

Checked against 6 sourcessports.yahoo.comottumwacourier.commiamitimesonline.comsportscollectorsdigest.comthenewsenterprise.comgephardtdaily.com
Illustration for: Michael Jordan 1998 Finals jersey sells for $14 million record

In brief

  • A Michael Jordan jersey from the 1998 NBA Finals sold for $14 million, a record for basketball memorabilia.
  • The private sale was facilitated by Hunt Auctions, with buyer Ron Firman identified as a Miami real estate investor.
  • The jersey is the second-highest price ever paid for a game-worn jersey in any sport, behind Babe Ruth's $24.12 million jersey.
  • Three jerseys from the 1998 Finals have now sold for at least $10 million each.

Michael Jordan 1998 Finals jersey sells for $14 million record

A game-worn, autographed red road jersey worn by Michael Jordan during Game 2 of the 1998 NBA Finals has sold for $14 million, setting a new record for basketball memorabilia. Hunt Auctions announced the private treaty sale on Monday, identifying the buyer as Ron Firman, a Miami real estate investor.

The jersey was worn by Jordan on June 5, 1998, when the Chicago Bulls defeated the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City to even the series at one game apiece. The Bulls went on to win the championship in six games, securing Jordan’s sixth and final NBA title.

Record-Breaking Sale

According to Hunt Auctions, this $14 million price tag makes the item the most expensive piece of basketball memorabilia ever sold. The sale places the jersey as the second-highest price ever paid for a game-worn jersey in any sport. It trails only the $24.12 million paid in 2024 for Babe Ruth’s “called shot” jersey from the 1932 World Series.

David Hunt, president of Hunt Auctions, described the transaction as a new benchmark for the industry. "While Michael Jordan’s importance within the sports memorabilia marketplace has long been established it has now escalated to an elite asset class more typically reserved for iconic works of art," Hunt said in a statement.

Provenance and Authentication

Hunt Auctions stated that the jersey was originally purchased directly from the Chicago Bulls by a private collector in 2003. The auction house noted that the item “has remained within a succinct chain of custody having only changed hands once from the original purchaser.”

The jersey was photo-matched by MeiGray Authentication and SIA Authentication. It features an autograph by Jordan that was authenticated by Upper Deck. In a letter documenting the item's history, Bulls Director of Community Relations Jeff Schultz called the jersey “one of the finest examples of any game worn jersey I have ever seen in my 15+ years of managing the Chicago Bulls memorabilia.”

Market Trends

This sale continues a trend of high-value transactions for items from Jordan’s final championship season, which was later chronicled in the 2020 documentary series The Last Dance. Three jerseys from the 1998 Finals have now reportedly sold for at least $10 million:

  • Game 1 Jersey: Sold for about $10.1 million in 2022.
  • Game 3 Jersey: Sold for $12.26 million at auction in September 2026.
  • Game 2 Jersey: Sold for $14 million in October 2026.

Additionally, a pair of Air Jordan sneakers worn by Jordan in Game 2 against the Jazz sold for $2.2 million in 2023, which Sotheby’s touted at the time as “a new world record for the most valuable sneakers ever sold.”

Why it matters

The sale highlights the escalating value of sports memorabilia, with David Hunt stating that Jordan’s importance in the marketplace “has now escalated to an elite asset class more typically reserved for iconic works of art.” The consistent record-breaking prices for items from the 1997-98 season reflect the enduring cultural significance of Jordan’s final championship run.

Sources

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.

Questions readers ask

Who bought Michael Jordan's 1998 Finals jersey and for how much?
Miami real estate investor Ron Firman purchased the jersey for $14 million in a private treaty sale announced by Hunt Auctions on Monday.
What record does this jersey sale set?
The $14 million price makes it the most expensive piece of basketball memorabilia ever sold and the second-highest price for a game-worn jersey in any sport.
When and against whom did Michael Jordan wear this specific jersey?
Jordan wore the red road jersey on June 5, 1998, during Game 2 of the NBA Finals when the Chicago Bulls defeated the Utah Jazz.
How was the authenticity of the jersey verified?
The jersey was photo-matched by MeiGray Authentication and SIA Authentication, and its autograph was authenticated by Upper Deck.
What other memorabilia from the 1998 Finals has sold for high values?
Three jerseys from the 1998 Finals have sold for at least $10 million, including the Game 1 jersey for $10.1 million and the Game 3 jersey for $12.26 million.

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