Michael Jordan’s game-worn white Chicago Bulls jersey from the 1998 NBA Finals sold for $12.26 million at digital auction house Joopiter, breaking the previous basketball memorabilia record. The sale surpasses the $10.1 million fetched by Jordan’s jersey from a 2022 duel, which Sotheby’s auctioned.
Record-Breaking Bidding for the Last Dance Jersey
The white jersey bearing the iconic number 23 was worn by Jordan during the third game of the 1998 NBA Finals. In that championship series, the Chicago Bulls faced the Utah Jazz. The high-stakes sale establishes a new benchmark for basketball collectibles, outstripping the previous record.
The Cultural Impact of The Last Dance Documentation
The intense collector interest surrounding Jordan’s 1998 postseason gear traces back significantly to Netflix’s 2020 documentary series, The Last Dance. The feature chronicled the final season of Jordan’s tenure in Chicago, amplifying global interest in the team’s pursuit of a sixth NBA title under coach Phil Jackson. During that era, Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and the rest of the Windy City roster secured championships in 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, and 1998, defeating Utah 4–2 in the ’98 finals.
Where the Sale Ranks Among Sports Collectibles
While the $12.26 million price tag sets a new standard for basketball memorabilia, it sits behind the all-time record for any sports collectible. In 2024, a jersey worn by baseball legend Babe Ruth commanded $24.1 million at auction, maintaining the top spot as the most expensive sports collectible in the world.
Career Trajectory Following the 1998 Finals
Following the 1998 championship run, Jordan stepped away from professional basketball for the second time in his career. He later reversed his retirement, returning to the NBA to play two seasons with the Washington Wizards. His career regular-season output places him sixth on the NBA’s all-time scoring list with 32,292 points, matching Dirk Nowitzki at that exact total.
