- The Washington Times - Wednesday, April 12, 2023

The mystique of NBA legend Michael Jordan has sold a lot of Air Jordan shoes, but none have sold for as much as a game-worn pair from the 1998 “Last Dance” NBA Finals auctioned off Tuesday by Sotheby’s.

The red and black Air Jordan XIII shoes, signed by Jordan in silver permanent marker, sold for $2.2 million. That price tag set a world record for the most valuable sneakers ever sold.

Jordan wore the Air Jordan XIII sneakers in Game 2 of the 1998 NBA Finals, his last championship series with the Chicago Bulls. He scored 37 points in that game, which the Bulls won 93-88 at Utah.

The Bulls went on to win their sixth title in six games.

After Game 2, Jordan gave the shoes to a Jazz ballboy who had helped him find his jacket after practice the previous day. The unnamed ball boy asked only for the shoes as compensation, and Jordan obliged.

The sneakers sold by Sotheby’s are the only pair purportedly worn by Jordan in an NBA Finals game authenticated by the MeiGray Group, the league’s official authenticator.

Another piece of Jordan memorabilia, a jersey worn in Game 1 of the 1998 NBA Finals, was auctioned off by Sotheby’s in September for $10.1 million. That sale broke the record for the highest-priced piece of memorabilia sold at auction.

• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.

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