A game-worn, autographed Chicago Bulls jersey worn by Michael Jordan during Game 2 of the 1998 NBA Finals has sold for $14 million in a private transaction, setting a new record for the most expensive piece of basketball memorabilia ever sold. The sale was announced by Hunt Auctions, a Philadelphia-based auction house, on Monday. The buyer was identified as Miami real estate investor Ron Firman.
The jersey, which features Jordan’s signature, was worn on June 5, 1998, when the Bulls defeated the Utah Jazz 93-88 to even the series at 1-1. Jordan recorded 37 points, five rebounds, and three assists in the victory, a performance that contributed to Chicago’s eventual six-game series win and Jordan’s sixth and final NBA championship. The 1998 Finals were the subject of the widely acclaimed documentary The Last Dance, which chronicled the Bulls’ 1997-98 season.
According to Hunt Auctions, the $14 million sale ranks as the second-highest known price ever paid for a game-worn jersey across all sports. The only jersey to surpass this figure is Babe Ruth’s “called shot” jersey from the 1932 World Series, which sold for $24.12 million in 2024. This marks the third Jordan jersey from the 1998 Finals to sell for more than $10 million, following the auction of his Game 3 white home jersey for $12.26 million in September 2024 and his Game 1 red road jersey for $10.09 million in 2022.
David Hunt, president of Hunt Auctions, stated in a release that while Jordan’s significance in the sports memorabilia market has long been established, the sale elevates his jerseys to an “elite asset class more typically reserved for iconic works of art.” Firman, the buyer, is described on his X (formerly Twitter) account as a “Commercial Real Estate Co. Principal” and a “rare vintage sports memorabilia collector” whose trading activities are compared to a hedge fund.
The Bulls’ victory in the 1998 Finals completed Jordan’s six championships in eight seasons with the franchise, further cementing his legacy as one of the greatest players in NBA history. The jersey’s sale underscores the enduring cultural and financial value of Jordan’s memorabilia, particularly items tied to his final championship run.