A rare piece of basketball history has changed hands for a staggering sum, with a game-worn, autographed
The jersey was worn by Jordan during Game 2 of the 1998 NBA Finals on June 5, 1998. In that contest, Jordan led the Bulls to a victory over the Utah Jazz, successfully leveling the series at one game apiece. The Bulls eventually secured the series in six games, marking the sixth and final championship of Jordan’s illustrious career.
A Growing Market for Elite Sports Memorabilia
The buyer of the jersey has been identified as Ron Firman, a real estate investor based in Miami. David Hunt, president of Hunt Auctions, noted that the sale reflects a shift in the sports memorabilia market, where items associated with Jordan are increasingly viewed as an elite asset class comparable to fine art. According to Hunt, the jersey has maintained a clear chain of custody, having been purchased from the Bulls by a private collector in 2003 and changing hands only once since then.
This transaction is the latest in a series of high-value sales involving memorabilia from Jordan's final season with the Bulls, which gained renewed global attention following the 2020 release of the documentary series The Last Dance. Other items from the 1998 Finals have also seen massive interest; a Game 1 jersey sold for approximately $10.1 million in 2022, while a Game 3 jersey fetched roughly $12.3 million last month. Additionally, a pair of Air Jordan sneakers worn by the star in Game 2 of that same series sold for $2.2 million in 2023.
While the $14 million price tag is significant, it remains the second-highest known amount paid for a game-worn jersey. The record is held by a Babe Ruth New York Yankees jersey, which sold for $24.12 million in 2024. That item was famously worn by the baseball icon during his "called shot" home run in the 1932 World Series against the Chicago Cubs.
