Full Breakdown
Michael Jordan’s 1998 Finals Game-3 Jersey Sets $12.26 Million Auction Record
By Drooid · · How we work
Record-Breaking Sale
On September 29, Joopiter – the digital-first auction platform founded by musician Pharrell Williams – announced that Michael Jordan’s white No. 23 jersey from Game 3 of the 1998 NBA Finals sold for a hammer price of $12.26 million (including buyer’s premium). The sale was conducted online, received a single bid, and established a new high for any game-worn Jordan item and for NBA jerseys overall. The buyer’s identity was not disclosed.
Background & Context
The jersey was worn on June 7, 1998 when the Chicago Bulls defeated the Utah Jazz 96-54 at the United Center, taking a 2-1 series lead. The 1997-98 season was later chronicled in ESPN’s documentary series *The Last Dance*, which framed the championship as the culmination of Jordan’s six-title run with the Bulls. Prior to this auction, the most expensive Jordan jersey was the red Game 1 shirt from the same series, which sold for $10.1 million at Sotheby’s in September 2022. The overall sports-memorabilia record remains Babe Ruth’s 1932 “called-shot” jersey, sold for $24.12 million in 2024.
Timeline
- June 7, 1998 – Jordan scores 24 points in a 96-54 blowout (Game 3).
- September 2022 – Jordan’s Game 1 jersey sells for $10.1 million (Sotheby’s).
- September 29 – Joopiter sells the Game 3 jersey for $12.26 million.
Data & Statistics
- Sale price: $12.26 million (including premium).
- Prior Jordan jersey record: $10.1 million (2022).
- Highest-priced sports jersey overall: $24.12 million (Babe Ruth, 2024).
- Game 3 margin of victory: 42 points, the largest in NBA-Finals history.
- Auction estimate: $10 million–$15 million (Joopiter).
Official Statements & Responses
Caitlin Donovan, Joopiter’s global head of sale, said the result reflects “the momentum” of a maturing sports-collectibles market and the platform’s growing global presence. The seller, identified in some reports as entrepreneur Ryan Gough and in others as Rob Gough, expressed personal pride in stewarding a piece of Jordan history.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Few objects in the history of sport embody greatness as completely as Michael Jordan’s Game 3 jersey from the 1998 NBA Finals,” — Pharrell’s Joopiter
- “It has been a privilege for Joopiter to bring such an important piece of Michael Jordan’s legacy to market, and to see it establish a new auction record for an NBA jersey,” — Caitlin Donovan
- “I’m going to flip things on its head,” — Ryan Gough
- “Everyone thought I was out of my mind, because it was so high compared to the previous transactions,” — Ryan Gough
Why It Matters
The transaction pushes the benchmark for NBA-jersey valuations, confirming that Jordan memorabilia continues to command eight-figure prices more than two decades after his final championship. Joopiter’s ability to attract a single high-value bid also signals confidence in digital auction formats for premium sports collectibles.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Seller identity: Field-level Media and Capital FM name Ryan Gough as the entrepreneur who put the jersey up for sale, while Sportico and Heavy cite Rob Gough as the seller.
- Authentication details: Some sources note MeiGray authentication in December 2015; others do not specify the certifying body.
These discrepancies highlight the limited public documentation surrounding private memorabilia transactions.