Michael Jordan’s 1998 NBA Finals Game 3 Jersey Sells for $12.26 Million

A jersey worn by Michael Jordan during Game 3 of the 1998 NBA Finals has just sold for a record $12.26 million. This white Chicago Bulls No. 23 jersey is the most expensive NBA game-worn jersey ever sold at auction.

Jordan wore this jersey on June 7, 1998, when the Bulls faced the Utah Jazz at Chicago’s United Center. The Bulls won that game decisively, 96-54, taking a 2-1 series lead. Jordan scored 24 points, along with several rebounds and assists, helping the team edge closer to their sixth NBA Championship.

This game and jersey hold special meaning because the 1998 Finals was Jordan’s last championship series with the Bulls. The Bulls went on to win the series 4-2, marking the end of an era for the team and its legendary star.

The auction was handled by Joopiter, an online auction house founded by musician Pharrell Williams. The jersey was estimated to sell for between $10 million and $15 million and attracted a single bid that met expectations. It came with strong proof of authenticity, including a MeiGray photomatching certificate and a letter of provenance.

What makes this jersey especially rare is that it is the only publicly known white game-winning jersey from the entire 1998 Finals to have appeared for sale. Jerseys from that time were not always carefully tracked or preserved, making this a unique piece of basketball history.

Jordan’s previous record for a game-worn NBA Finals jersey was set in 2022 with his Game 1 jersey from the same series, which sold for $10.1 million. This latest sale shows how much value collectors place on items connected to Jordan’s final championship run.

Though the buyer remains anonymous, the sale highlights the lasting appeal of Jordan memorabilia and the special place the 1998 Bulls season holds in basketball history.