UA pair of sneakers worn in a 1984 game by American basketball legend Michael Jordan were sold at a Sotheby’s auction on Sunday for a record price of nearly $ 1.5 million.
“The most valuable sneakers ever offered at auction – the Nike Air Ships model used in regular games in 1984 – just sold for $ 1,472,000 at our Las Vegas luxury sale,” Sotheby’s said in a statement.
The white and red shoes were worn by Jordan in the fifth game of his first NBA season as a Chicago Bulls player in 1984, and are signed by himself.
This is the first time that a pair of shoes at public auction has exceeded a million dollars, and they were acquired by collector Nick Fiorella.
“This record-breaking Jordan Nike Air Ships result reaffirms the place of Michael Jordan and the Air Jordan franchise at the top of the shoe market,” said the auction house’s Brahm Wachter after the sale closed.
Previously, in 2020, a Nike Air Jordan 1 High worn by the basketball legend in 1985 fetched a price at Christie’s auction of $ 615,000.
Jordan retired from basketball in 2003 and is considered one of the best players in the history of the sport.