Jordan’s jersey could reach $100 million
Michael Jordan’s game-worn jersey from Game 3 of the 1998 NBA Finals could become the most expensive piece of game-worn sports memorabilia ever sold.
Sports investor and actor Rob Gough is putting the iconic white Chicago Bulls jersey up for auction four years after purchasing it. Gough believes the piece could reach an unprecedented price.
“I think this will be the first jersey to hit $100 million,” he said to NY Post.
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A jersey from Jordan’s “Last Dance” season
The jersey comes from the 1997-98 NBA season, Jordan’s final season with the Chicago Bulls and the campaign that ended with his sixth NBA championship.
Gough described finding the jersey as a “wild treasure hunt,” following a chain of contacts that eventually led him to the previous owner.
He never discovered the identity of the original owner and, because of a non-disclosure agreement, cannot reveal how much he paid for the jersey.
Why Game 3 makes the jersey so valuable
The historical significance of the game is a major factor behind Gough’s valuation.
In Game 3 of the 1998 NBA Finals, the Bulls defeated the Utah Jazz by 42 points, setting a record for the largest margin of victory in NBA Finals history.
For Gough, the result of the game is particularly important when evaluating sports memorabilia.
Jordan’s jersey from Game 1 of the 1998 Finals currently holds the record for the most expensive game-worn jersey ever sold at auction. It fetched $10.1 million at Sotheby’s in 2022.
Auction begins September 15
The jersey will be auctioned by Joopiter, the auction house founded by Pharrell Williams, beginning September 15.
Gough previously displayed the jersey at his home in Puerto Rico for two years before moving it into a vault for safekeeping.
He eventually decided to sell it after questioning the value of keeping such an iconic piece of sports history hidden away.
“What’s the point of being a steward of something if you’re not gonna let people see it and enjoy it?” Gough said.
From sports memorabilia to “modern art”
Gough has established himself as a major figure in the collectibles industry. In 2021, he purchased a rare 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card for $5.2 million, which at the time was a record price for a sports card.
His collection also includes jerseys and memorabilia connected to legends such as Kobe Bryant, Wilt Chamberlain, Tom Brady and Wayne Gretzky.
Now, Jordan’s 1998 Finals jersey could become his biggest transaction yet. If it reaches $100 million, it would set an extraordinary new record for game-worn sports memorabilia.
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