Michael Jordan's game-worn Game 3 1998 Finals jersey sells for record $12.26 million

A jersey worn by Michael Jordan during Game 3 of the 1998 NBA Finals has sold at auction for $12,260,000, setting a new benchmark for game-worn sports memorabilia and underscoring the enduring commercial appeal of Jordan's career.

The jersey stems from the Chicago Bulls' championship run against the Utah Jazz, a series immortalized in the acclaimed documentary "The Last Dance," which reignited widespread interest in Jordan's legacy and the Bulls' dynasty of the 1990s.

A booming market for game-worn items

The sale reflects a broader surge in demand for authenticated, game-worn memorabilia tied to iconic moments in sports history. Collectors and investors alike have increasingly treated such items as a distinct asset class, with prices for elite pieces climbing steadily over the past several years.

Jordan memorabilia in particular has repeatedly set records at auction, driven by his status as one of the most recognizable athletes in history and the scarcity of items tied to specific, well-documented moments such as NBA Finals games.

Context within Jordan's Finals legacy

Game 3 of the 1998 Finals was part of the Bulls' sixth championship run, a series that cemented Jordan's reputation as one of the greatest competitors in basketball history. Items connected to that title run, the last of the Bulls' 1990s dynasty, have consistently drawn intense bidding interest.

The record sale adds to a growing list of high-value transactions in the sports memorabilia market, which has increasingly attracted institutional buyers alongside longtime collectors.