Michael Jordan's 1998 Finals Jersey Sells for Record $12.26 Million

Michael Jordan’s 1998 NBA Finals Game 3 Chicago Bulls jersey sold for $12.26 million at a JOOPITER auction, setting a new record for an NBA jersey worn in a game. The sale on September 29, 2026, highlights a surging collectibles market where rare athletic textiles and trading cards command fine-art valuations, according to published auction reports.

The 1998 Finals Jersey Record and Game Context

The white Chicago Bulls number 23 jersey was worn by Jordan on June 7, 1998, during Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz at the United Center. Chicago secured a 96-54 victory in that matchup, with Jordan contributing 24 points to push the series lead to 2-1 on their way to a sixth championship. The season marked Jordan’s final campaign with the franchise, famously chronicled in the documentary The Last Dance. JOOPITER, the platform founded by Pharrell Williams, handled the transaction after estimating the lot between $10 million and $15 million. MeiGray provided photomatching certification and provenance documentation for the sale.

The $12.26 million price tag surpasses the previous high-water mark for a Jordan jersey: the red jersey from Game 1 of the same 1998 Finals, which fetched $10.091 million at auction in 2022. While both items stem from the final championship run, they represent distinct garments worn in separate games.

Babe Ruth Leads All Sports Memorabilia With Called Shot Jersey

Despite setting the basketball benchmark, Jordan’s latest game-worn apparel trails the most expensive piece of sports history ever sold at public auction. In August 2024, Heritage Auctions sold a New York Yankees jersey worn by Babe Ruth during Game 3 of the 1932 World Series for $24.12 million, nearly doubling the price achieved by the 1998 Bulls jersey.

1998 NBA Finals jersey worn by Michael Jordan sells for $12.26 million

The value of Ruth’s jersey connects directly to the disputed lore of the “Called Shot,” wherein the slugger gestured toward the outfield fences before hitting a home run against the Chicago Cubs. Historical photographs and photomatching techniques verified the authenticity of the garment, tying it permanently to one of baseball’s most debated moments.

Jordan and Kobe Bryant Dual Logoman Card Precedes the Jersey Sale

Within basketball collecting, the new jersey record sits behind a dual-player trading card featuring Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. Heritage Auctions sold an Upper Deck Exquisite Collection 2007-08 Dual Logoman Autographs card for $12.932 million in August 2025.

The collectible features authentic autographs from both athletes alongside game-used NBA logo patches cut from their professional jerseys. Produced as a unique one-of-one item, the card previously outpaced a Topps card of Mickey Mantle in overall value, proving that Jordan’s memorabilia market reaches higher financial tiers when paired with rare card configurations.

Mickey Mantle 1952 Topps Card Valuation History

Occupying the third tier of historic sports memorabilia sales is a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle baseball card. Heritage Auctions sold the New York Yankees collectible for $12.6 million in August 2022.

The valuation reflects the exceptional preservation of the card, which received a 9.5 out of 10 grade from appraisal firm SGC despite dating back seven decades. The economic trajectory of the piece highlights the dramatic appreciation of sports collectibles over time; previous owner Anthony Giordano bought the card for $50,000 in 1991, realizing a price 252 times higher upon its 2022 sale.

Frequently Asked Questions About Historic Sports Auctions

What authentication process verifies game-worn jerseys like Jordan’s? Authentication firms use photomatching, comparing high-resolution archive photographs of games with the exact wear patterns, stitching, and logos on the physical jersey. Companies such as MeiGray examine these visual markers to issue letters of provenance.

How does the $12.26 million jersey compare to Jordan’s 2022 auction? The white Game 3 jersey surpasses the red Game 1 jersey from the 1998 NBA Finals, which sold for $10.091 million in 2022. Both garments originate from the same championship series against the Utah Jazz but were worn during different games.

Where was the 1998 Finals jersey sold? The transaction was completed on JOOPITER, an auction platform founded by Pharrell Williams, which closed the bidding on September 29, 2026.