A Michael Jordan autographed road jersey worn during the 1998 NBA Finals has sold for $14 million in a private transaction, establishing a new price milestone for basketball memorabilia, Primera Hora reported. Hunt Auctions, a Pennsylvania-based auction house, facilitated the sale and identified the buyer as Miami real estate investor Ron Firman.
The Record-Setting Red Jersey from Game 2
The garment in question is the red Chicago Bulls jersey Jordan wore on June 5, 1998, during Game 2 of the NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz. Jordan and the Bulls secured a 93-88 victory that evening in Salt Lake City, evening the series at one game apiece before ultimately claiming their sixth championship in six games. That 1997–98 campaign served as the focal point of the 10-part documentary series The Last Dance, released in ESPN and Netflix in 2020.
Although Michael Jordan’s significance within the sports collectibles market has long been established, it has now reached the level of an elite asset class typically reserved for iconic works of art,
said David Hunt, president of Hunt Auctions, in a statement released by the firm.
Private Sale Value Versus Public Auction Records
While the $14 million private transaction marks a staggering sum for basketball gear, it sits second behind the $24.12 million paid in August 2024 for the New York Yankees jersey worn by Babe Ruth during his legendary called shot
home run in the 1932 World Series at Wrigley Field. Concurrently, public platforms have seen separate Jordan jerseys from that same 1998 postseason command massive numbers. A white jersey from Game 3 of the 1998 Finals sold through Joopiter for $12.26 million, while a Game 1 jersey fetched $10.1 million at Sotheby’s in September 2022.
According to Hunt Auctions, the red Game 2 jersey bought by Firman was originally acquired directly from the Chicago Bulls by a private collector in 2003. It has maintained a concise chain of custody, having only changed hands once since the original buyer,
Hunt noted. Firman expressed enthusiasm over securing the piece, calling Jordan a uniquely talented player admired across the globe.
Collector Demand for the Final Championship Run
The market for items linked to Jordan’s final season with Chicago continues to outpace nearly every other sector of sports memorabilia. In 2023, a pair of Air Jordan sneakers worn by the guard during Game 2 of the 1998 Finals sold at Sotheby’s for $2.2 million, setting a high-water mark for footwear at the time. With private sales now matching or exceeding public auction ceilings, pieces from the team’s sixth title run are increasingly treated as blue-chip investments.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 14 Million Dollar Jordan Jersey
Who bought the 1998 Michael Jordan jersey for 14 million dollars?
Miami real estate investor Ron Firman purchased the autographed road jersey through a private transaction arranged by Hunt Auctions.
Which specific game did Michael Jordan wear this record-breaking jersey in?
Jordan wore the red uniform during Game 2 of the 1998 NBA Finals on June 5, 1998, when the Chicago Bulls defeated the Utah Jazz 93-88 to tie the series.
How does this sale compare to other high-priced sports memorabilia?
At $14 million, it stands as the second-most expensive game-worn sports jersey in history, trailing only Babe Ruth’s 1932 World Series jersey, which fetched $24.12 million in 2024.
Worth a look
