Michael Jordan’s First NBA Jersey Sells for $4.125 Million — And It Has a Story to Tell
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The first jersey ever worn by Michael Jordan as a member of the Chicago Bulls just sold for an eye-popping $4.125 million, according to Sotheby’s Auction House. While Jordan memorabilia has commanded record-setting prices in recent years, this particular piece stands out—not just for its value, but for its history.
This is the only known game-worn, photo-matched jersey from Jordan’s rookie year (1984–85) to ever appear at auction. The matching was done by industry leaders MeiGray and forensic firm Proven Data, who tied the jersey to four preseason games played on October 5, 7, 13, and 18. That preseason timeline is what gives the jersey its historical weight—it wasn’t just any rookie-season uniform. It was Jordan’s first as a pro.
A second photo-matching team, Sports Investors Authenticators (SIA), confirmed the jersey’s use in two of those games—October 7 and 13—and also verified the large autograph scrawled across the front.
But the jersey’s story doesn’t stop there.
On the back, faint outlines of previous names and numbers are still visible, suggesting that it was repurposed from other players before being assigned to Jordan. When it last surfaced at auction through Grey Flannel Auctions, it came with a 1985 letter from the Bulls’ PR head at the time, which read: “If that jersey has a number and name change, sounds like you have the very first jersey this organization issued Michael Jordan.”
So, not only was this likely his first Bulls jersey—it may have even had a past life before MJ ever wore it.
Despite the wear, or perhaps because of it, the jersey reached historic heights with this latest sale. It now ranks as the fifth most expensive jersey ever sold. Three of the four ahead of it? Also worn by Jordan. That includes his 1996–97 regular season jersey, which sold for $4.7 million, and his legendary “Last Dance” NBA Finals jersey from 1998, which still holds the record at $10.097 million.
The previous sale of this same jersey was just $66,000—a stunning return for the seller and a reminder of how strong the Jordan memorabilia market has remained.
Nearly two decades after his retirement, Michael Jordan’s legacy continues to drive demand at the highest levels of collecting. Whether it’s a rookie-year jersey or game-worn shoes, his items remain among the most coveted in sports history.
And if this sale is any indication, there’s no sign of that slowing down.
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