Courtesy of Sotheby’s
Nearly a year after the debut of a collection of sneakers worn by Michael Jordan during his six NBA championships, Sotheby’s has announced plans to put the shoes up for auction.
Known as the “Dynasty Collection,” this unprecedented collection features an Air Jordan shoe from each of Jordan’s six championship-winning appearances in the NBA Finals. Chicago Bulls communications director Tim Hallam personally presented each pair of sneakers signed by Jordan as part of a tradition that began with the team’s first championship in 1991. An anonymous buyer then purchased the collection directly from Hallam, who then listed it at Sotheby’s. to facilitate another transaction.
Before the 1991 Finals, Hallam asked for a pair of game-worn Air Jordan sneakers from Hallam himself in case the Bulls went on to win the championship. After winning the championship in Game 5 against the Los Angeles Lakers, Jordan took one of the shoes out of his Air Jordan 6, signed it, and gave it to Hallam. Due to superstition, Jordan continued this practice through the next five championships – in the process creating what is now the most valuable collection of sneakers, if not sports memorabilia, to hit the market.
Sotheby’s originally announced plans to sell the sneakers at a private auction last year. But after taking the collection on a global tour, the auction house and owner decided it was best to accept bids to determine the true value. The auction will begin on February 2, and Sotheby’s expects the final price to be $7 million to $10 million.
In addition to the Air Jordan 6, the series also includes the 1992 Air Jordan 7, the 1993 Air Jordan 8, the 1996 Air Jordan 11, the 1997 Air Jordan 12 and the 1998 Air Jordan 14. Also included in the auction are photos of Jordan celebrating every championship (except ’91), when he was only wearing one shoe and the other had been given away.
In 2023, a pair of Air Jordan 13s signed and worn by Jordan in Game 2 of the 1998 Finals sold for $2.2 million, setting the current record for the most expensive sneakers in history.
About the author:
Ian Cervantes is a Senior Hot News Editor Footwear News covers sneakers exclusively. After beginning his career in pop culture, he covered streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety. He firmly believes that “the ball is life” and doesn’t make a fuss if his ball gets dirty.