This jersey was worn by Michael Jordan over a 5-month span in Jordan’s fifth championship season, from December of 1996 to April of 1997, photomatched to a a remarkable 17 games in 15 different cities. That this jersey was worn by Michael Jordan for such a long period of time – at the height of his celebrity as well as his basketball powers – is just one of the elements that make this jersey one of the most stunning pieces that has ever surfaced from the greatest to ever play the game. At the midway point of their second three-peat, Jordan and his Bulls were in the midst of establishing themselves as one of the era-defining NBA dynasties and as the standard by which most future teams would be judged against. Jordan in particular was cementing his place as the focal point for a generation of basketball culture: by the end of the second three-peat, Jordan accounted for 10-20% of the league’s $2 Billion revenue by some estimates.

On March 12, 1997 the Philadelphia Seventy-Sixers — featuring Allen Iverson, the 1st pick of a legendary 1996-97 Draft Class that also featured the likes of Kobe Bryant, Ray Allen, Steve Nash, and others — hosted the Chicago Bulls. This was Iverson’s third matchup against his childhood hero, Michael Jordan. Iverson recalled the first time he met Michael Jordan in an interview with The Player’s Tribune:

Iverson and Jordan had an iconic game, and in a one-on-one matchup, Iverson decided he would try and do his ‘move’ on Michael Jordan – the cross-over.

Allen recalled, “I gave him a little cross to see if he’d bite on it. I let him set his feet, and then I stepped it back again.” Iverson tripped-up the GOAT, and nailed his shot.

It became one of the most culturally significant moments in basketball history.

There is a common misconception about the rarity of Michael Jordan jerseys prior to the 1997-1998 season. In Michael’s last season, the Bulls realized that they could commercialize his jerseys for charity and as such, there are a number of 1997 – 1998 jerseys that have surfaced throughout the years.

In the 12 seasons prior to 1997-1998, MeiGray has examined 130 jerseys purported to be worn by Michael Jordan, however, at the time of cataloging only 4 jerseys have proven to be authentic. This is one of those jerseys, and it is the most extensively worn Michael Jordan Bulls Game-Worn Jersey ever submitted to MeiGray Authenticated, whose database includes MJ authenticated jerseys from his rookie season in 1984-85.

This is perhaps the finest Away-Red Michael Jordan jersey that has ever surfaced at market.

This uniform was worn over an extraordinary seven-month stretch of the 1988-89 NBA season and has been extensively photomatched by Sports Investors Authentication, and MeiGray.

The 1988-1989 season was a significant one for Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in multiple ways. Jordan was coming off winning his first MVP award and the 1988 Defensive Player of the Year Award for the first and only time of his career while Scottie Pippen was entering his second season in the league. In 1989, Jordan earned his third straight scoring title with a blistering 32.5 points per game average, was named to his fifth consecutive All-Star Game, his third straight All-NBA First Team as well as his second straight All-NBA Defensive First Team while leading the 6th seed Chicago Bulls to their first Conference Finals berth in more than a decade and their first since becoming an Eastern Conference team in 1980. Many of the matches are to undated photographs, as photographers often would not date their images in this era, however it is possible that this is the only home jersey worn by Michael Jordan during the 1988-89 season. In conversations with Sports Investors Authenticated, they were not able to find an image of Michael Jordan at Home during the 1988-1989 season not in this jersey.

1988-89 saw Michael Jordan put on dazzling scoring displays. He achieved 50 points in an incredible five games over the course of the regular season, the second highest single-season total in his career. On January 21, 1989, Jordan and the Bulls faced the Phoenix Suns in Chicago. While the eventual third seed Phoenix Suns would leave with the victory, Jordan put on an incredible individual exhibition. Jordan finished with a season-high 53 points (in this jersey) without a single three-point attempt, season-high 14 rebounds, and eight assists despite accounting for about half of the Bulls scoring output by himself.

Less than a month later, Jordan put on another incredible display, this time in an intense divisional rivalry. On February 16, 1989, the Bucks came to Chicago. Less than five games separated the divisional rivals entering play, and with all eyes on the playoff picture the stakes were high. Jordan delivered a punishing 50 points on 62 percent shooting in this jersey. The Bulls would need every point, winning a thriller 117-116. Amidst one of his best scoring seasons, this jersey witnessed Jordan at the peak of his powers.

In the 12 seasons prior to 1997-1998, MeiGray has examined 130 jerseys purported to be worn by Michael Jordan, however, at the time of cataloging only 4 jerseys have proven to be authentic. This demonstrates the extreme level of rarity for reliably photomatched Michael Jordan jerseys from the 1984-1997 period.

The population of pre-‘Last Dance’ jerseys is remarkably slim – with a single-game jersey from these seasons emerging here-and-there. The reality is that Michael would often wear a single jersey for huge swaths of time during these periods, making them exceptionally rare and coveted.

This is perhaps the finest Home-White Michael Jordan uniform that has ever come to market.

This flag effortlessly stands as one of the most significant 'Dream Team' artifacts ever. Draped over the right shoulder of Michael Jordan during the 1992 Olympic Gold Medal ceremony, it served as both a personal statement and a subtle act of defiance, covering the Reebok logo on his jacket to honor and show loyalty to his longtime business partner, Nike. Its importance is further amplified by the fact that it is signed by the entire 'Dream Team,' making it a centerpiece of one of Jordan’s most iconic career moments.

Reebok had spent millions of dollars to sponsor the Olympic Games, and as part of that deal, expected athletes to be pictured in its apparel. In Episode V of The Last Dance, legendary NBA commissioner David Stern recalls of the incident, “…Michael decided that he didn’t want to display the Reebok logo that was on his uniform.”

More than just a flag, this artifact symbolizes Jordan’s Gold Medal victory with the 1992 'Dream Team,' widely considered the greatest basketball team ever assembled. Signed by all the legendary players including: Charles Barkley, Larry Bird, Clyde Drexler, Patrick Ewing, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Christian Laettner, Karl Malone, Chris Mullin, Scottie Pippen, David Robinson, and John Stockton, this flag marks a defining moment in basketball history, a milestone in the NBA's global rise, and Jordan’s unwavering loyalty to Nike, the brand that has stood by him since the start of his career.

Still in its original condition from the Gold Medal ceremony, this flag bears witness to a historic moment when the world’s eyes were fixed on the Olympic podium. Moments like this, which showcase Jordan's charismatic defiance, are why the public continues to be so captivated by him.

Uncompromising in his beliefs and fearless in defending them, MJ's actions reflect the boldness that defines his legacy, both on and off the court.

Past Auction

Colossal | The Ultimate Jordan Collection

23 October–4 November 2024 | 4:00 PM EST | New York