Jordan’s game-worn Bulls jersey enters auction as sports memorabilia record comes into view

A jersey worn by Michael Jordan during one of the defining games of the 1998 NBA Finals could become the most valuable piece of game-worn sports memorabilia ever sold.

The Chicago Bulls jersey, worn by Jordan in Game 3 of the Finals against Utah Jazz, will be offered by Jupiter, the auction house founded by Pharrell Williams. Bidding is due to open on 15 September.

Jupiter has placed an initial estimate of between $10m and $15m on the white jersey. However, it is expected to attract bids of $24m or more, a price that would set a world record if it surpasses the $24.12m paid for a baseball jersey worn by Babe Ruth in 1932. That item sold in 2024.

Jordan wore the jersey at Chicago Stadium after the Bulls and Utah Jazz had split the opening two games of the series. Chicago produced one of the most dominant performances in NBA Finals history, defeating the Jazz 96-54.

The 42-point margin remains the biggest winning gap in the history of the NBA Finals. Jordan scored 24 points in 32 minutes during the game.

The Bulls went on to win the series 4-2, securing their sixth NBA championship in eight seasons. The victory also brought the curtain down on one of the most successful eras in the history of the franchise.

The value of the jersey is connected not only to its role in Game 3, but also to the wider significance of the 1997-98 season. That campaign became known as the “Last Dance” and was Jordan’s final season with the Bulls during the team’s celebrated golden period.

According to Jupiter, the white jersey is the only publicly known shirt worn by Jordan during the 1998 Finals to have reached the market. It also carries the NBA Finals logo, adding to its historical and collectable appeal.

Another jersey worn by Jordan during the 1998 Finals was sold by Sotheby’s for $10.1m in 2022. At the time, that sale established a record for sports memorabilia worn by an athlete during a game.

The new auction could therefore set a fresh benchmark for game-worn sporting items, although the final price will depend on the level of interest when bidding begins in September. A sale above $24.12m would move Jordan’s jersey beyond the record previously set by Ruth’s baseball shirt and underline the enduring commercial power of one of basketball’s most iconic figures.