A rare pair of Michael Jordan’s Air Jordan 1s worn during the Oct. 26, 1985 Chicago Bulls vs. Detroit Pistons game that ignited a fierce rivalry has sold for more than $205,000, according to Grey Flannel Auctions.
WBBM Newsradio reported last month that the shoes would be going up for auction with a starting bid of $25,000. At $205,188, they sold for more than eight times that starting bid.
“These iconic sneakers were worn during just the second game of the 1985-86 season, when tensions between the Bulls and the ‘Bad Boys’ Pistons exploded into chaos at Chicago Stadium,” Grey Flannel Auctions explained. “The game featured a defining moment when Bill Laimbeer’s hard clothesline foul on Jordan – a play that would warrant ejection under today’s rules – cleared both benches and resulted in the ejection of both head coaches Stan Albeck and Chuck Daly.”
Jordan still managed to dominate the game with 33 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and three blocks. The Bulls’ 121-118 victory was sealed with a clutch left-handed free throw in the final seconds of the game.
According to the auction house, the Air Jordans that he wore during the game have several features that make them “museum worthy” artifacts. These include: rare “double-lacing” with both red and black laces, a photo match confirmation, signatures from Michael Jordan on each shoe and acquisition directly from John Ligmanowski, the Chicago Bulls equipment manager throughout the 1980s and 1990s.
“The shoes feature the original Air Jordan design by Peter Moore, with red and white leather uppers, black leather heel wrap with Nike Swoosh, and the iconic Air Jordan logo,” Grey Flannel Auctions added. In addition to the historic Bulls vs. Pistons game (was immortalized on the 1986 Michael Jordan Star Co. #9 Rookie Card), the sneakers may have been worn in additional games, based on wear patterns.
These aren’t the first pair of Jordan sneakers to sell for the price of a house. GQ noted in an article earlier this year that Sotheby’s “moved a pair of autographed Air Jordan 1s for an eye-watering $560,000,” back in 2019. This year, Sotheby’s “registered the most lucrative sneaker sale in the history of the auction house,” – an eight-shoe collection worn by Jordan known as the “Dynasty Collection” that sold for $8 million, said GQ.