A legendary piece of sports memorabilia was sold on March 20, 2025 for $4.2 million at an auction organized by Sotheby’s: the first jersey worn by Michael Jordan with the Chicago Bulls during a preseason game in 1984. With this price, it becomes the third most expensive jersey of the six-time NBA champion ever sold at public auction.
The jersey was worn by Michael Jordan on October 5, 1984, in his first unofficial game as a professional player against the Indiana Pacers, played in Peoria, Illinois. In that game, the young Jordan, only 21 years old, made his greatness clear from the start: he scored 18 points in 29 minutes and helped the Bulls win 102-98.
From donation to auction
The curious thing about this Michael Jordan jersey is its trajectory.
In 1985, the Bulls donated it to a charity auction for the Washington Bullets (now Wizards).
At the time it was sold for a mere $800, as the original bidder, who had offered $1,000, never completed the payment.
Since then, the jersey passed through private hands and was auctioned in 2009 for $66,000.
The jersey was worn by Michael Jordan on October 5, 1984
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The last owner kept this Michael Jordan garment for more than a decade until deciding to sell it this year, making a million-dollar profit.
Sotheby’s auction house confirmed that this jersey is the only one worn in preseason during Michael Jordan’s rookie campaign that has come on the market.
Icon on and off the court
Buzzy
Michael Jordan had an unforgettable rookie season: he averaged 28.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 2.4 steals per game, and was named Rookie of the Year in 1985.
In addition, he finished sixth in the voting for the Most Valuable Player (MVP), a rare feat for a rookie.
Michael Jordan’s most valuable jersey remains the one he wore in the first game of the 1998 NBA Finals.
It sold for $10.1 million in 2022, also by Sotheby’s.
It is followed by another used at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, sold for $3.03 million in 2023.
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