Michael Jordan’s 1998 NBA Finals Jersey Sells for $14 Million

Michael Jordan hasn’t played in the NBA for over 20 years, yet his influence remains profound. A game-worn, autographed 1998 NBA Finals jersey has sold for a staggering $14 million. This private sale marks it as the most valuable basketball memorabilia ever sold. Hunt Auctions, based in Pennsylvania, announced this significant transaction. Miami real estate investor Ron Firman is now the proud owner of this iconic red Chicago Bulls jersey.

Jordan wore the jersey during Game 2 of the 1998 NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz on June 5, 1998. This game saw the Bulls tying the series at 1-1. The Bulls then went on to secure their sixth championship in eight seasons. Jordan’s legacy as the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) was further strengthened by this achievement.

David Hunt, president of Hunt Auctions, stated, “While Michael Jordan’s importance in the sports memorabilia marketplace has long been recognized, it has now reached an elite asset class, similar to iconic works of art.” The $14 million sale stands as the second-highest known price for a game-worn jersey across all sports. Only Babe Ruth’s “called shot” jersey from the 1932 World Series surpasses it, having sold for $24.12 million in 2024.

This sale is not an isolated event. This marks the third 1998 NBA Finals Jordan jersey to sell for over $10 million. His Game 1 jersey fetched about $10.1 million in 2022, and his Game 3 jersey garnered around $12.3 million recently. Altogether, more than $36 million has been spent on three jerseys from one championship series.

Ron Firman, the buyer, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “Michael Jordan was an incredibly talented player admired worldwide. I’m very excited about the purchase.”

The jersey was first bought from the Bulls by a private collector in 2003. Only one other exchange has occurred since. The fascination with Jordan’s final season extends beyond jerseys. In 2023, a pair of Air Jordans worn during Game 2 of the same Finals sold for $2.2 million at Sotheby’s. It set a record as the most expensive sneakers sold at the time.

Even after nearly 30 years since his iconic championship-winning shot against Utah, collectors are willing to invest heavily in Jordan’s legacy. Michael Jordan may have retired, but his dominance in the memorabilia market continues.