Jordan ‘Last Dance’ Jersey Sells for Record £10.6m in Landmark Private Sale

A Michael Jordan game-worn jersey from his iconic “Last Dance” season has sold for a record $14 million (£10.6 million), establishing a new benchmark for basketball memorabilia. The autographed Chicago Bulls jersey, worn during Game 2 of the 1998 NBA Finals, was purchased by Miami real estate investor Ron Firman in a private transaction arranged through Hunt Auctions.

The sale, confirmed on 12 October 2026, surpasses the previous high for any basketball item and ranks as the second-most expensive game-worn sports jersey ever sold. Only Babe Ruth’s 1932 World Series “called shot” jersey, which fetched $24.1 million (£18.2 million) in 2024, has commanded a higher price in the sports memorabilia market.

Historic Context of the 1998 Finals Jersey

Jordan wore the red road jersey on 5 June 1998 in Salt Lake City as the Bulls faced the Utah Jazz. Chicago had lost Game 1 of the series. Jordan responded with a game-high 37 points, helping the Bulls secure a 93-88 victory and even the series at one game apiece. The Bulls went on to win the championship 4-2, securing Jordan’s sixth and final NBA title. He was named Finals Most Valuable Player for the sixth consecutive time in a championship series.

The 1997-98 season later became the focus of the acclaimed documentary series The Last Dance, which chronicled the Bulls’ final championship run under coach Phil Jackson and the eventual break-up of the dynasty. That cultural resonance has driven intense collector interest in authentic artefacts from the campaign.

Authentication specialists MeiGray and SIA confirmed through photo-matching that Jordan wore this specific jersey during Game 2. Upper Deck authenticated his signature on the garment, adding further provenance and value.

Recent Wave of Record-Breaking Sales

This latest transaction continues a remarkable run of high-value sales involving Jordan’s 1998 Finals jerseys. Just two weeks earlier, a non-autographed jersey from Game 3 of the same series sold at auction for $12.3 million (£9.3 million) via Pharrell Williams’ digital platform Joopiter. That price itself had broken the previous record for game-worn Jordan memorabilia, which stood at approximately $10.1 million for a Game 1 jersey sold in 2022.

A trading card featuring Jordan and Kobe Bryant from the 2007-08 season had previously held the basketball memorabilia record at $12.9 million (£9.8 million). The new $14 million private sale now stands clearly at the top of the basketball category.

David Hunt, president of Hunt Auctions, described the deal as evidence of Jordan’s elevated status in the collectibles world. “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,” he said.

Growing Demand for Jordan Artefacts

Jordan remains the most searched athlete in the sports collectibles space and consistently ranks among the highest in graded card populations. Items linked to his championship years, particularly the 1998 campaign, continue to attract sophisticated buyers who view them as both cultural artefacts and investment-grade assets.

The private nature of the latest sale reflects a trend toward discreet, high-value transactions among serious collectors. Firman, the buyer, has expressed admiration for Jordan’s global impact, noting the player’s enduring influence beyond the court.

Broader Significance in Sports Collecting

The successive records set by 1998 Finals jerseys illustrate how narrative power and scarcity drive value in the memorabilia market. Game-worn items from decisive moments in championship series carry particular weight, especially when supported by rigorous authentication and, in this case, the athlete’s own signature.

While baseball still holds the absolute top spot with the Ruth jersey, basketball’s rapid rise in the hierarchy is unmistakable. Jordan’s dominance during the 1990s, combined with the storytelling power of The Last Dance, has created a unique demand that shows no sign of slowing.

As more authenticated pieces from that era potentially enter the market, collectors and investors will continue to watch closely. For now, the $14 million (£10.6 million) sale of the Game 2 “Last Dance” jersey stands as the clearest demonstration yet of Michael Jordan’s lasting commercial and cultural power more than a quarter-century after his final championship with the Chicago Bulls.

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