Rare piece of Michael Jordan memorabilia sells for astonishing 4.2million at auction
By ERIC BLUM
The first NBA jersey ever worn by Michael Jordan was sold at a recent auction for an astonishing 4.215million dollars, as the Chicago Bulls kit was authenticated by Sotheby's.
The auction house had bidding for the item close on Wednesday, as it was displayed at its New York City headquarters. Sotheby's said a private collector won the auction, with no other information given as to their identity.
Sotheby's also claims it was the only game-worn, photo-matched Jordan rookie jersey to publicly surface at an auction.
Sportswear retailer MeiGray stated that it believes this is the first jersey Jordan ever wore while playing in the NBA. MeiGray examined video footage from Jordan's first NBA game while working with forensic analysis firm Proven Data. That first preseason game took place Oct. 5, 1984, in Peoria, Illinois.
MeiGray photo-matched the jersey to Oct. 13, 1984, which was Jordan's fourth NBA game. Sports Investors Authenticated photo-matched it to Oct. 7, 1984, which would have been his second game.
Sotheby's said it could be authenticated this extensively because it appeared previous players had worn the jersey before Jordan got it.
Michael Jordan's first game-worn Chicago Bulls jersey was displayed at Sotheby's last week
The first NBA jersey ever worn by Jordan was sold at an auction for an 4.215million dollars
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There are dark stains under the name 'Jordan' and under the No 23 where it appears multiple other players' names and numbers had previously appeared.
Jordan switched jerseys for his regular-season debut and for the rest of the 1984-85 season.
ESPN reported that this is the fifth-most-expensive NBA jersey ever to get sold by auction. Two of the four jerseys to bring higher prices also were worn by Jordan.
Jordan's 'Last Dance' jersey sold for more than $10million in September 2022, the record for a piece of sports memorabilia.
Jerseys belonging to a pair of Lakers are the only ones to join Jordan in the top five - one worn by Kobe Bryant, and another by Wilt Chamberlain.
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