Michael Jordan Autographed Bulls Jersey Sold for Record $14 Million, Sets Basketball Memorabilia Record

Michael Jordan's game-worn and autographed jersey from the 1998 NBA Finals has been sold privately for $14 million (£10.4 million), setting a record for basketball memorabilia, according to auction house Hunt Auctions.

The Pennsylvania-based company announced the sale on Monday, identifying the buyer as Ron Firman, a Miami real estate investor. The red Chicago Bulls jersey was worn by Jordan during Game 2 of the NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz on 5 June 1998.

Jordan scored 37 points as the Bulls defeated the Jazz 93-88, levelling the series at one game apiece. Chicago eventually won the championship in six games, securing its sixth NBA title in eight years and the final championship of Jordan's illustrious career.

The 1997-98 campaign later became the focus of The Last Dance, a 10-part documentary released in 2020 that chronicled Jordan's final championship season with the Bulls and the challenges surrounding the team's dynasty.

'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,' said David Hunt, president of Hunt Auctions.

'We are very pleased to have been able to facilitate this historic sale which serves as another benchmark for our industry.'

A Growing Market for Jordan Memorabilia

The $14 million (£10.4 million) transaction ranks among the most expensive sales of a game-worn sports jersey. It remains behind the $24.12 million (£17.9 million) paid in 2024 for the New York Yankees jersey worn by Babe Ruth during his famous 'called shot' home run against the Chicago Cubs in Game 3 of the 1932 World Series.

Jordan's 1998 Finals jerseys have repeatedly attracted enormous interest from collectors. A jersey worn during Game 1 sold for approximately $10.1 million (£7.5 million) at auction in 2022, while another from Game 3 fetched about $12.3 million (£9.1 million) in a sale last month, according to Hunt Auctions.

The latest transaction highlights the appeal of items connected to Jordan's final championship run, when his performances helped cement his standing as one of basketball's greatest players.

Other Jordan memorabilia has also commanded extraordinary prices. In 2023, Sotheby's sold a pair of his game-worn Air Jordan trainers from Game 2 of the 1998 Finals for $2.2 million (£1.6 million). The auction house described the sale at the time as a world record for the most valuable trainers ever sold.

Buyer Welcomes Purchase as Collectors Look to Sports History

Firman's purchase adds another landmark transaction to a market in which provenance, historical significance and a direct connection to iconic sporting moments can substantially influence value.

According to Hunt Auctions, the jersey was originally purchased from the Bulls by a private collector in 2003. The auction house said it 'has remained within a succinct chain of custody having only changed hands once from the original purchaser'.

That documented ownership history provides collectors with a record of the item's journey since leaving the team.

'Michael Jordan was an incredibly talented player who is admired around the world,' Firman said in a news release distributed by the auction house. 'I'm very excited about the purchase.'

Jordan's memorabilia continues to benefit from his enduring global popularity, the Bulls' championship legacy and the cultural impact of the 1998 season.

For collectors, the jersey represents more than a piece of sportswear: it is a tangible link to the final championship chapter of one of basketball's most celebrated careers.