The pair is now the most expensive sneakers ever sold.
The sneakers signed by Michael Jordan were worn during the Hall of Famer’s 1998 NBA Finals win. The game was known as “The Last Dance” because it was Jordan’s final year with the Chicago Bulls.
The legendary basketball player scored 37 points against the Utah Jazz, ultimately winning the game with 93 to 88.
READ ALSO: The Dynasty Collection: Legendary Michael Jordan Sneakers Expected To Sell For At Least $20 Million
After the game, Jordan gifted the sneakers to the Jazz’s ball boy in the visitor’s locker room. According to Sotheby’s, the basketball player gave them away as thanks for finding a lost jacket.
Last Tuesday, the pair set a new record for its first time at auction.
The auction house initially estimated the signed sneakers to go for at least $2 million, already among the most expensive Jordan items auctioned.
The 25-year-old sneakers are in near-mint condition, with Jordan’s signature along the top of each shoe. “It looks like Michael took them off his feet yesterday,” said Brahm Wachter, head of streetwear and collectibles at Sotheby’s.
The Air Jordan 13 sneakers ended up fetching $2.2 million, overtaking Kanye West’s Nike Air Yeezy 1 prototype model which sold for $1.8 million in 2021.
Another historic day at #SothebysNewYork! Michael Jordan’s 1998 NBA Finals Game 2 Air Jordan 13s from the famous ‘The Last Dance’ season sold for $2.2 million, setting a new world record for the most valuable sneakers ever sold. pic.twitter.com/myK5uWZVBE
— Sotheby's (@Sothebys) April 11, 2023
“Today’s record-breaking result further proves that the demand for Michael Jordan sports memorabilia continues to outperform and transcend all expectations,” said Wachter.
In February, Sotheby’s announced that Jordan’s “Dynasty Collection,” a set of six individual sneakers, would be going on tour.
The auction house has not disclosed if the collection has been sold, but sneaker experts speculate that the set could sell for tens of millions.
Banner image via Twitter @Sothebys.
