For many NBA fans, Michael Jordan remains the Greatest of All Time despite the emergence of elite talents such as Kobe Bryant, Lebron James and Kevin Durant since his retirement. With this stature, MJ related memorabilia is one of the hottest niches in the collectables market.
According to data presented by Wette.de, Michael Jordan’s game-worn Nike Air Ships from the 1984 season sold for $1.47M in Oct. 2021, making it the most expensive piece of MJ memorabilia ever sold. In addition, the five most expensive MJ items now have a combined value of $4.58M.
Michael Jordan remains the GOAT among many basketball fans especially among those who were fans before the turn of the millennium. Jordan has himself eternalized his legacy with the success of the Jordan brand, making the sporting icon still one of the most recognizable names in all of sports.
Michael Jordan memorabilia are thus, hot property in the collectables market. In Oct 2021, the most expensive MJ memorabilia sold for $1.47M – a pair of game-worn Nike “Air Ships” from the 1984 NBA season.
Before October’s record sale, MJ’s game-worn “University of North Carolina 1982-83 Jersey” held the title as most valuable Jordan memorabilia when it was purchased for $1.38M. The five most expensive Michael Jordan now also have a combined value of just under $5M.
The Shoe – Nike Air Ships 1984
The record-breaking Nike Air Ships are not only signed by the legend himself but is also credited as the first shoe of Michael Jordan’s professional basketball Career.
Jordan was drafted in 1984 by the Chicago Bulls, and impressed immediately, winning the Rookie of the Year award for the 84-85 season. Jordan is also largely credited with ushering in the sneaker revolution, helping Nike beat out historic giants Converse to become the leading sporting brand globally today.
Rex Pascual, Sports editor at Wette.de, commented on Jordan’s impact:
“Michael Jordan will go down as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, basketball player to ever play the game. But Number 23’s impact on the game of basketball transcends far beyond the hardwood. The living legend is seen as the one player who arguably had the biggest impact on the game’s popularity that allowed it to reach the level we see today.”
