S
otheby’s is proud to present VICTORIAM, a special two-part curated collection of sports artifacts. Led by Michael Jordan’s 1998 NBA Finals Game 2 Air Jordan XIIIs, the auctions feature a variety of athletes who have had deep and lasting impact on their respective sports. From Kobe Bryant to Roger Federer to Tom Brady, the auctions feature a host of items many of which are fresh to market.
This collaboration, which launched in February 2023, celebrates Virgil Abloh’s great passion for basketball and his city by joining forces with the legendary NBA team the Chicago Bulls. The spark for this partnership started through a conversation between Don C, Off-WhiteTM CEO Andrea Grilli and the Abloh family, with the ambition of creating a special capsule celebrating the deep connection between the luxury fashion brand and the team. The red-and-cream varsity jacket blends heritage and innovation, balancing a classic Bulls logo on its back with calculated irreverence: the aforementioned scripted words and spirited riffs on familiar emblems, such as a basketball ripping through a net. This jacket features further special detail, with signatures from the 2022-23 Chicago Bulls team in interior lining. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the jacket will be donated to The Virgil Abloh Foundation.
With the score knotted at 35-35 with under 10 seconds on the clock, Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker trotted onto the field for the biggest kick of his life. The Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles were locked into one of the highest-scoring and most intense Super Bowls of all time.
But after three-plus hours of back-and-forth action, Super Bowl LVII had come down to a single Field Goal attempt from just under 30 yards. With over 100 million viewers intently watching worldwide. Butker calmly drilled the ball down the middle. Following a failed hail mary attempt by Philadelphia, the game was officially over. The Chiefs won their 3rd Super Bowl in franchise history.
Super Bowl LVII was just the 9th Super Bowl in history decided by 3 points or fewer. In addition, this historic evenly-matched battle was the 3rd highest-scoring Super Bowl in history.
Sotheby’s is proud to present the NFL football from Harrison Butker’s game-winning field goal in Super Bowl LVII with only 8 seconds left in regulation.
Through his five NBA championships, seven NBA Finals appearances, fifteen postseason trips, and a plethora of individual accolades, many consider the 81 point performance by Kobe Bryant to be the benchmark for one of the greatest basketball players of all time.
In an interview with ESPN about the game, Bryant said “There's a lot of players who come up now who don't think 80 points is possible. You think 50, and if you're really hot – 60. I never had that limit. Ever. I never, ever thought that way. I always thought 80 was possible. I thought 90 was possible. I thought 100 was possible. Always. I think that game is a testament to what happens when you put no ceiling to what you're capable of doing."
Sotheby’s is proud to offer the shooting shirt worn by Kobe Bryant the afternoon of his historic 81-point performance.
In 1975, Brazilian footballer Pele famously signed with the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League (NASL) where he spent the final three seasons of his illustrious career. His arrival garnered considerable media attention and led to a significant increase in the sport’s popularity in the United States and paved the way for several other international stars to join the NASL.
He made his highly anticipated debut with the Cosmos on June 15, 1975 in a match against the Dallas Tornado in front of a raucous crowd at Downing Stadium in New York City. The legendary attacker scored a goal and added an assist in an exciting 2-2 draw that served as the perfect introduction of Pele to the American audience.
A week later, Sports Illustrated memorialized the momentous occasion by featuring Pele on the cover with the headline ‘Pele’s Triumphant Debut’. This marked just the second time that a footballer graced the cover of the world’s most recognizable sports magazine.
Sotheby’s is proud to present this jersey worn by Pele in his debut match with the New York Cosmos on June 15, 1975.
Michael Jordan wore this home Chicago Bulls jersey in two games during the magical 1997-1998 NBA season often referred to as ‘The Last Dance.’ He led the Bulls to the 1st seed in the Eastern Conference with a 62-20 record with season averages of 28.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists. MJ captured his league-record 10th scoring title and collected his 5th MVP award.
‘The Last Dance’ was Michael Jordan’s final season with the Bulls and is perhaps the most beloved period in Jordan folklore, as Michael reached the apex of his popularity and powers while simultaneously conquering major internal divisions that were fracturing the team dynamics of the late 90s Chicago Bulls. The season is referred to as ‘The Last Dance’ in large part due to the smash-hit ESPN documentary of the same name, which chronicled the Bulls efforts in the 1997-1998 season. The players were cognizant that the roster would ultimately be disbanded at the end of the season and knew it was their final opportunity to capture a 6th Bulls Championship of the decade. ‘The Last Dance’ was Michael Jordan’s magnum opus as an athlete – a testament to him as a competitor, a sportsman, a teammate, and ultimately, a champion.
