Michael Jordan’s 1998 Finals Game-3 Jersey Heads to a High-Profile Auction

A white mesh jersey bearing Michael Jordan’s number “23,” worn during Game 3 of the Chicago Bulls’ 1998 NBA Finals victory over the Utah Jazz, is being offered by Joopiter. The “Driven to Greatness” online auction runs from September 15 through September 29, 2026. Joopiter estimates the lot will fetch between $10 million and $15 million, which would make it the most expensive basketball jersey ever sold if it exceeds the low estimate.

CNNNew York PostMichael Jordan's 1998 finals jersey up for auction with eyes set on $100 million

Game 3 of the 1998 Finals marked the climax of Jordan’s “The Last Dance” season and the Bulls’ sixth championship in eight years. The jersey is the only publicly known white, game-winning shirt from that series on the market, according to Joopiter. A red Jordan jersey from Game 1 of the same Finals sold for $10.1 million at Sotheby’s in 2022; Babe Ruth’s “Called Shot” baseball jersey fetched $24.12 million in 2024, the record for any sports collectible.

CNNNew York PostMichael Jordan's 1998 finals jersey up for auction with eyes set on $100 million

• Michael Jordan — former Chicago Bulls guard, wore the jersey in the decisive 1998 Finals game.

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• Rob Gough — sports-investor and actor who purchased the jersey four years ago and is selling it through Joopiter.

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• Pharrell Williams — musician, producer and Joopiter’s men’s creative director, who helped launch the auction.

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• Caitlin Donovan — Joopiter’s global head of sales, overseeing the sale.

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• Joopiter — online auction platform owned by Pharrell Williams, handling the listing.

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• 1998 – Jordan wears the white jersey in Game 3 of the NBA Finals.

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• 2022 – Jordan’s Game 1 jersey sells for $10.1 million at Sotheby’s.

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• 2024 – Babe Ruth’s “Called Shot” jersey sells for $24.12 million.

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• September 15 2026 – Auction begins.

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• September 29 2026 – Auction concludes.

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• Joopiter’s low estimate: $10 million–$15 million.

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• Rob Gough’s public target: $100 million for the jersey.

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• Prior record for a basketball jersey: $10.1 million (2022).

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• Highest price for a sports collectible: $24.12 million (2024).

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• E-Bay users have spent $88 million on Jordan trading cards this year, according to Gemrate.

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Rob Gough said the jersey had been a “tremendous” personal treasure but argued that keeping it in a vault defeats the purpose of stewardship, prompting his decision to place it on the market.

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• Price expectations: Joopiter’s estimate of $10 million–$15 million contrasts sharply with Gough’s prediction of $100 million. No reserve price has been disclosed.

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• Provenance details: Gough has not revealed the purchase price he paid for the jersey, citing a nondisclosure agreement.

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• “The significance of this jersey extends well beyond the box score,” — Pharrell Williams.

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• “This is the type of object collectors wait a lifetime for — an irreplaceable artifact that transcends basketball to become a piece of global cultural history,” — Caitlin Donovan.

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• “You’re a steward of these iconic pieces of history. When I had it in the house, it was tremendous. But when it was in the vault … what’s the point of being a steward of something if you’re not gonna let people see it and enjoy it?” — Rob Gough.

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The “Driven to Greatness” auction will accept bids from September 15 until its scheduled close on September 29, after which the winning bidder will acquire what many consider one of the most significant modern sports artifacts.

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