Sotheby’s is hosting its latest unique sports auction.
The auction house unveiled on Thursday the sale of NBA legends Michael Jordan‘s and Kobe Bryant’s first game-worn jerseys, from the former’s time at the Chicago Bulls and the latter’s at the Los Angeles Lakers. Together, the jerseys are expected to sell for more than $20 million.
“The historical weight of these two jerseys is difficult to overstate,” said Brahm Wachter, Sotheby’s head of modern collectibles. “They are as rare as they come. Early rookie jerseys represent the genesis of an athlete’s career. For collectors in search of true one-of-one treasures, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own iconic pieces of basketball history. Debut games are something every athlete experiences just once in their career journey, and is a moment where the hype of their pre-professional career finally comes to bear in the big leagues.”
The sale marks the first time in more than 15 years that Jordan’s first game-worn NBA jersey has appeared in the public. Jordan wore the jersey during his pre-season debut on Oct. 5, 1984, during a game in Peoria, Ill. It’s said that Jordan also wore the jersey during his second and third games that pre-season.
Michael Jordan’s and Kobe Bryant’s first game-worn jerseys.
Courtesy of Sotheby’s
According to Sotheby’s, the jersey was repurposed for Jordan, which is why there are darker stains on the back of the jersey that indicate remnants of other players’ names and numbers.
Bryant’s jersey is from his 1996-97 rookie season with the Lakers. He wore the jersey additionally at his NBA Media Day and pre-season debut.
Both jerseys will be on display at Sotheby’s New York headquarters starting March 21. Jordan’s jersey will be on sale between March 12 and 26 and Bryant’s jersey will be on sale between April 10 and 24.
In November 2023, Sotheby’s was named the official game-worn source for NBA memorabilia and has since hosted numerous sales auctioning coveted jerseys and other gear.
The auction is also the latest event where Sotheby’s has sold Jordan’s NBA memorabilia. In September 2022, the auction house sold Jordan’s 1988 Finals “The Last Dance” jersey for nearly $10.1 million.
