Michael Jordan’s iconic ‘The Last Dance’ sneakers received record-breaking $1.8M bid at auction

In true Michael Jordan fashion, an auction bid for sneakers worn by the legendary basketball star broke a previous record set by, well, a different pair of Jordan’s shoes.

A pair of signed, red and black Air Jordans worn by Jordan himself during the 1998 NBA Finals “Last Dance” game has received a single $1.8 million bid, setting the sneakers up to fetch a record-setting price.

Until now, the sneakers to get the highest price at auction have been a pair that Jordan wore as a rookie with the Bulls. They sold for $1.47 million.

With a bidding deadline of April 11, Sotheby’s estimates the cost of the Jordans will land somewhere between $2 million and $4 million.

It was in the “Bred” Air Jordan XIII that the star registered a game high 37 points over 40 minutes in a Chicago Bulls 93-99 victory over the Utah Jazz, Sotheby’s noted.

The Bred, short for “black and red,” Air Jordan sneakers, referred to the style Jordan wore right up until the end of his career with the Bulls. The NBA banned the first pair of Breds worn by the basketball legend, with Jordan being fined $5,000 a game because the colours violated the league’s uniform code. Nike cashed in on the controversy, spinning the sneakers in a series of ads promoting them as rebellious in nature.

“The Last Dance” was the basketball legend’s final season with the Bulls, known as possibly the most beloved period of his career, and inspired a popular, 10-part series on Netflix three years ago.

The story of the partnership between Nike and Jordan has also been captured on the big screen in a film by Ben Affleck featuring pal Matt Damon released this week called “Air.”

Sotheby’s caption for the auction listing details how Jordan gave his sneakers to the ballboy responsible for the visitors’ locker room after the game as a gift. The boy had previously returned a lost jacket to Jordan, and then asked, “Can I get your kicks after the game tomorrow?”

After that game, Jordan, who had previously given the boy sneakers, took his sneakers off in the locker room, signed each of them, and gave them to the boy as a thank you, the auction house reported.

The size 13, Nike “Bred” Air Jordan XIII, made from rubber, leather, cotton and synthetic materials circa 1998 are “in pristine condition consistent with use. They have been signed in silver marker,” according to Sotheby’s.

“This particular pair would be the final pair of Air Jordan XIII Breds that Michael would ever lace up in an NBA game.”

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