A Michael Jordan jersey from the 1998 NBA Finals sold for a record $14 million in a private deal, marking the highest price for basketball memorabilia and the second-highest for any game-worn sports jersey after Babe Ruth’s 1932 World Series jersey.
The red road jersey worn by Michael Jordan during Game 2 of the 1998 NBA Finals—featuring his iconic 37-point performance that helped the Chicago Bulls even the series against the Utah Jazz—was sold for $14 million in a private transaction brokered by Hunt Auctions. The sale, confirmed by multiple outlets, sets a new benchmark for basketball memorabilia and ranks as the second-largest sale for a game-worn sports jersey, trailing only Babe Ruth’s “called shot” jersey, which fetched $24.1 million in 2024.
Set New Benchmark for Game-Worn Jerseys
Hunt Auctions, which facilitated the sale, described the jersey as a remarkable garment
that bore witness to one of Jordan’s most hallowed NBA Finals appearances.
David Hunt, the auction house’s president, emphasized Jordan’s crossover appeal, stating, In our opinion, and 36 years of market experience, Babe Ruth and Michael Jordan stand above all others in the history of American sports.
Firman, who called the purchase “exciting,” highlighted Jordan’s global admiration, stating, Michael Jordan was an incredibly talented player who is admired around the world.
Highlight Enduring Legacy and Market Trends
The 1998 Finals, chronicled in the documentary The Last Dance, remains a defining chapter in Jordan’s career. Game 2, played on June 5, 1998, in Salt Lake City, saw Jordan’s 37-point outburst propel the Bulls to a 93-88 victory, setting the stage for their sixth and final championship. The jersey’s value is tied not only to its sporting significance but also to its provenance: it changed hands only once since 2003, when it was originally acquired from the Bulls by a private collector. A 2003 letter from Jeff Schultz, the Bulls’ director of community relations, attests to its authenticity, noting it as one of the finest examples of any game-worn jersey I have ever seen.
Experts in the sports memorabilia market view the sale as a demonstration of Jordan’s lasting influence. David Hunt, speaking to AOL, stated, While Michael Jordan’s importance within the sports memorabilia marketplace has long been established, it has now escalated to an elite asset class more typically reserved for iconic works of art.
The sale also shows the rising overlap between sports and art markets, where rare items command prices similar to high-value artworks.