Michael Jordan’s ‘Last dance’ NBA Finals sneakers set record at auction

Want to be like Mike? It's going to cost you. 

A pair of autographed sneakers that Chicago Bulls star Michael Jordan wore in Game 2 of the 1998 NBA Finals in his "Last Dance" season sold for a record $2.238M on the auction block at Sotheby's New York, becoming the most expensive shoes ever sold. 

The Hall of Famer wore the Air Jordan 13 Breds, short for "black and red," in the second half of the Bulls' 93-88 win over the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City. Jordan finished the night with 37 points to tie the series and went on to win his sixth and final NBA championship with Chicago. He was named Finals MVP. 

The previous record for highest price of sneakers ever sold was Kanye West's Air Yeezy 1 from 2008, which sold for $1.8 million in April 2021. Jordan also had another pair of sneakers, a pair of Nike Air Ships, that sold for $1.4 million in October 2021.

MICHAEL JORDAN: Gave these sneakers to a ball boy. Now, they could break auction records.

Following game two, Sotheby's said Jordan took his sneakers off in the locker room, signed them, and gave them to the ball boy responsible for the visitor's locker room "as a thank you for his services and hospitality." The ball boy had returned Jordan's lost jacket at a practice the day prior, and asked "Can I get your kicks after the game tomorrow?"

"Immediately following the game, the ball-boy responsible for the visitors’ locker room received a gift from MJ," Sotheby's said. "Michael, having given pairs to the same ball-boy during prior visits, took his sneakers off in the locker room after Game 2, signed each sneaker, and handed them as a thank you for his services."

That's not the only 'The Last Dance' memorabilia setting records. Jordan's Game 1 jersey from the 1998 NBA Finals jersey sold for $10.1 million in September 2022. According to Sothebys, that marked the most paid for a basketball jersey, any game-worn sports memorabilia and the most valuable Michael Jordan item sold at auction. 

Contributing: Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY