A pair of Air Jordan 13 “Bred” worn by NBA icon Michael Jordan fetched a record $2.2 million at a Sotheby’s auction on Tuesday, making them the most valuable sneakers ever sold.
The basketball star wore “Bred” – short for “black and red” – for the second game of the 1998 NBA championship season with the Chicago Bulls. Spotted on the court during the second half of the game between the Chicago Bulls and the Utah Jazz, Jordan’s team ultimately took the title by a score of 93 to 88, with Jordan scoring 37 points and being named MVP. To die-hard basketball fans, this year’s game was known as the “Last Dance.”
In 2020, a Netflix documentary was made to chronicle Jordan’s final season with the Chicago Bulls and his final NBA championship.
According to auction house Sotheby’s, the tracksuit was given to a ball boy after the game for finding a lost jacket. However, it is unknown if the shoe’s recipient had put it up for auction. The identity of the buyer is also a mystery. “Bred” is the only complete pair of sneakers that has been photo-matched and authenticated by the MeiGray Group, the official authenticator of the NBA, according to the statement from Sotheby’s.
Brahm Wachter, Sotheby’s head of streetwear and contemporary collectibles, commented on this exceptional sale, “Today’s record results further prove that demand for Michael Jordan sports memorabilia continues to exceed and exceed all expectations.” The “Bred” even broke Jordan’s own record of $1.5 million for his 2021 Nike Air Ships. And last year, one of his jerseys sold for $10.1 million, taking home the crown as the highest-paid game-worn memorabilia.
“We have clients in all different areas, from real estate to financing to private equity. There are a lot of people interested in this emerging market,” Wachter added. In addition to sportswear, there is also a persistent interest in items from different eras such as classic cars and watches. Often these vintage items have historical significance that proves to be more valuable than its monetary value.
A celebrated athlete, Jordan continues to be one of the richest sports players in the world and reportedly earns millions from his partnership with Nike through the Air Jordan brand he started in 1984.
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