Photo Credit: Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press
Sotheby’s, one of the world’s leading auction houses, is set to make history once again with their auction of a pair of Michael Jordan’s game-worn sneakers.
The sneakers, a pair of Air Jordan 13s in the iconic Bred colorway, are expected to fetch a staggering sum, when the auction ends later today.
Michael Jordan is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, and his name is synonymous with the Air Jordan brand, which has become one of the most successful and iconic athletic shoe lines in history. The story of how Nike first signed Jordan is currently watched by millions around the globe, displayed by the film ‘Air’.
The signed shoes up for auction were worn by Jordan in Game 2 of the 1998 NBA Finals – his final season with the Bulls – a game in which Jordan registered a game high 37 points in a 99-93 victory over the Utah Jazz
The shoes, which many consider to be among the most famous and recognizable basketball sneakers of all-time, are estimated to fetch between €2 million and €4 million.
Photo: Sotheby’s
Photo: Sotheby’s
Nine hours before the end of the auction, the highest offer stands at $1.8 million, which is poised to break the all-time record for a pair of sneakers.
The sneakers are being auctioned as part of the Victoriam collection, which Sotheby’s started to give a nod to legendary players and their lasting effect on their sport. The Sotheby’s site introduces the Victoriam auction as follows:
“Sotheby’s is proud to present VICTORIAM, a special two-part curated collection of sports artifacts. Led by Michael Jordan’s 1998 NBA Finals Game 2 Air Jordan XIIIs, the auctions feature a variety of athletes who have had deep and lasting impact on their respective sports.
Last year, Sotheby’s auctioned off Michael Jordan’s 1998 Game 1 “Last Dance” jersey, which took over the record for the highest priced basketball jersey ever, at $10.091 million, surpassing the previous record from Diego Maradona’s 1986 ‘Hand of God’ jersey.
