A Michael Jordan jersey worn during Game 2 of the 1998 NBA Finals sold at auction for $14 million, setting a new record for basketball memorabilia. Pennsylvania-based auction house Hunt Auctions announced the sale to Miami real estate investor Ron Firman, marking the second-highest price ever paid for a piece of American sports game-worn equipment.
June 1998 Salt Lake City Performance
The sale stems from Game 2 of the 1998 NBA Finals held on June 5, 1998, at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City. Michael Jordan scored 37 points in the Chicago Bulls’ victory over the Utah Jazz, tying the series 1-1. The Bulls ultimately captured the NBA championship four games to two, a season chronicled in the Netflix documentary series “The Last Dance.”
“We are very honored to have made this historic sale possible,” said David Hunt, president of Hunt Auctions. “We have set a new benchmark in our industry.”
The buyer, Ron Firman, expressed his perspective on the acquisition through the auction house. “Michael Jordan was an incredible player, one of the most talented that I have ever seen and one of the most appreciated on a global level,” Firman said. “I am very excited for this purchase.”
Prior Ownership History
The jersey’s journey to a $14 million sale price began decades ago. Following the 1998 championship run, the Chicago Bulls initially sold the uniform to a private collector in 2003, according to Hunt Auctions records. Auction administrators noted that the garment’s scarcity of prior owners—having changed hands only once before this auction—added significant value for high-end sports collectors.
Where the $14 Million Sale Ranks in US Sports History
While the transaction establishes a benchmark for National Basketball Association memorabilia, it ranks second overall within the broader market for American sports collectibles. The $14 million price tag sits behind the $24.12 million paid by a private buyer in 2024 for a New York Yankees jersey worn by Babe Ruth during Game 3 of the 1932 World Series against the Chicago Cubs.
The sale also continues a rising market trend for Jordan’s final-season apparel. It marks the third time a jersey worn by Jordan has surpassed the $10 million threshold at auction. In 2022, a jersey worn during Game 1 of the 1998 Finals sold for $10.1 million. A month prior to the latest auction, another jersey worn by Jordan in Game 3 of that same series realized $12.3 million.
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