Full Breakdown
Michael Jordan’s 1998 Finals Jersey Sets $14 Million Record
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Sale Details
On October 12, 2026, Hunt Auctions announced that a game-worn, autographed Chicago Bulls road jersey from Game 2 of the 1998 NBA Finals was sold in a private treaty to Miami real-estate investor Ron Firman for $14 million. The red jersey was the one Jordan wore on June 5, 1998, when Chicago tied the series against the Utah Jazz.
Background & Context
The 1998 NBA Finals marked Michael Jordan’s final championship with the Chicago Bulls, a season later chronicled in the ten-episode “Last Dance” documentary released in 2020. Jordan’s performance in Game 2 included 37 points, helping the Bulls even the best-of-seven series. Items from that championship have become highly sought after by collectors worldwide.
Data & Statistics
- $14 million is the highest price ever paid for any basketball memorabilia and the second-largest known price for a game-worn jersey of any sport.
- The only higher jersey sale is Babe Ruth’s 1932 “called shot” jersey, which fetched $24.12 million in a prior transaction.
- Two earlier Jordan jerseys from the same Finals have each sold for more than $10 million: one fetched roughly $10 million and another about $12 million.
- A pair of Jordan sneakers worn in Game 2 sold for $2.2 million in a separate auction.
Official Statements & Responses
Hunt Auctions president David Hunt said the sale demonstrates that Jordan’s memorabilia has moved into an “elite asset class” comparable to iconic works of art and serves as a benchmark for the industry.
Why It Matters
The transaction underscores the growing financial valuation of sports collectibles, positioning basketball memorabilia alongside high-value artifacts from other sports. The sale may encourage further private-treaty deals for historic sports items, influencing market expectations for future memorabilia auctions.
Verbatim Quotes
- “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,” — David Hunt, president
- “Michael Jordan was an incredibly talented player who is admired around the world.” — Ron Firman, real estate investor
- “In our opinion, and 36 years of market experience, Babe Ruth and Michael Jordan stand above all others in the history of American sports,” — Hunt Auctions President David
