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Dan Hajducky, ESPN Staff Writer
A game-worn Michael Jordan jersey from the Chicago Bulls‘ 1996-97 season has sold for $4.68 million via Sotheby’s.
The jersey was worn in at least 17 games during the season, including the game in which rookie sensation Allen Iverson crossed Jordan over.
It’s the fourth-most expensive NBA jersey of all time behind Jordan’s $10.1 million “Last Dance” jersey; a signed Kobe Bryant jersey worn in his lone MVP season in 2007-08 which sold for just over $5.8 million; and a 1972 NBA Finals jersey worn by Wilt Chamberlain during the Los Angeles Lakers‘ first NBA title run ($4.9 million) — all of which sold via Sotheby’s. The 1996-97 Jordan red jersey is the only MeiGray Authenticated red jersey from Jordan’s first five championship seasons.
According to Sotheby’s, “The jersey has remained in private hands since its sale from the team.”
The jersey was one of five lots from Sotheby’s “Colossal | The Ultimate Jordan Collection” auction, which included a game-worn and signed jersey from Game 1 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs during the 1998 “Last Dance” season (sold for $840,000); a University of North Carolina practice set of jersey and signed sneakers ($132,000); a set of game-used jersey and shorts from the 1988-89 season, including playoffs ($1.08 million); and a 1992 Summer Olympics “Dream Team”-signed American flag ($1.8 million) worn during the gold medal ceremony.
In total, the Jordan auction raked in $8.5 million. The “Dream Team” American flag, possibly due to the lore behind it — Jordan notably covered the Reebok logo with the flag out of loyalty to Nike — prompted a bidding war of 45 bids.