A pair of Nike sneakers worn by Michael Jordan sold at an auction Sunday for more than $71,000.
The Nike Air Ship shoes worn by the Bulls’ most infamous MVP during his rookie season fetched $71,553 through SCP Auctions.
The shoes are white leather canvas with a red Nike Swoosh logo and a red upper heel. Because Jordan wore different sizes for comfort and fit, the left shoe is size 13 and the right is size 13 1/2.
The last time Jordan wore the sneakers was Dec. 2, 1984, at a game the Bulls played against host team Los Angeles Lakers. The then-rookie Jordan scored 20 points overall in a close game where the Bulls won 113-112.
SCP Auctions says Jordan directly gifted the shoes to then-Lakers’ ball boy Khalid Ali in the locker room following the game. Ali, then 15 years old, recalls bravely asking the MVP while warming up if he could have a pair of his shoes. Jordan told Ali that he could have his “game” pair, which are the Nike Air Ship shoes auctioned off.
Ali says he snuck into the locker room where Jordan kept his promise of handing his “game” shoes over. The sneakers, which come with a detailed letter of authenticity, were then stored away in Ali’s closet until they were auctioned off Sunday.
The shoes were sold early Sunday morning around 3 a.m. Pacific Time, according to SCP Auctions Spokesman Terry Melia. The sneakers were part of an auction of more than 1,300 sports memorabilia items that brought in $4.1 million in revenue.
