Michael Jordan’s Last Dance sneakers just broke the record for the most expensive pair of sneakers ever sold at auction.
When the Sotheby’s auction opened, it quickly got a bid of USD $1.8 million – already surpassing the $1.47 million price record held by a pair of sneakers.
When the gavel fell, the winning bid was $2.2 million, far below the original pre-auction estimate of $4 million but obviously still enough to set the record.
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Michael Jordan wore the Air Jordan XIIIs for his last championship season with the Chicago Bulls in 1997-1998.
The sneakers are actually known as the Bred Air Jordans – short for ‘black and red’ for the iconic Chicago Bulls colorway.
On 5 June 1998, Jordan wore the shoes when the Chicago Bulls played Utah Jazz.
Jordan registered a game-high 37 points over 40 minutes in a Bulls 93-88 victory over the Jazz.
Following the game, Jordan gave his shoes to a ball boy, according to Sotheby’s.
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The gift was a thank you, as the ball boy had found Jordan’s lost jacket and given it back to him earlier that week.
After returning the jacket, he asked “can I get your kicks after the game?”
So, after the game, Jordan signed each sneaker and handed them over.
The sneakers became the only complete pair worn by Jordan during an NBA Finals game.
The black and red sneakers now each have Jordan’s signature in bold silver marker on the toe box.
And they remain in immaculate condition.
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The sneakers get the name ‘Last Dance’ because that’s what Jordan’s final season with the Chicago Bulls was called.
This is in part because of the ESPN documentary by the same name which covered the Chicago Bulls 1997-1998 season.
