In 1998, Michael Jordan laced up a pair of his iconic black and red Air Jordan 13s to bring home a Bulls victory during Game 2 of his final NBA championship — and now the sneakers are going on sale and expected to smash auction records.

Sotheby’s in New York will offer up the game-winning sneakers next month, for a high estimate of US$4 million, with open bidding to take place online from April 3 to 11. The current record from 2021 — a pair of Nike Air Ships that Jordan wore early in his career — is US$1.47 million, which marked the first time a set of sneakers sold for more than US$1 million.

The sale arrives during “Jordan Year” — a reference to the NBA star player’s iconic jersey number 23. In January, Air Jordan partnered with Sotheby’s to auction off 13 pairs of retro pairs of sneakers that were designed in memory of The Notorious B.I.G.

All lots outsold their high estimates of US$5,000 by multiples, with the highest selling for more than US$32,000.

Last year, Jordan’s Game 1 jersey, also from the 1998 finals, became the most expensive worn sports memorabilia to sell at auction when it fetched US$10.1 million at a Sotheby’s sale.

Jordan’s farewell run with the Chicago Bulls is often referred to as “The Last Dance,” after the title of an ESPN and Netflix documentary that chronicled the season. Jordan announced his (second) retirement weeks before the finals, leading to the six-game series against the Utah Jazz becoming the most-watched in NBA history, based on Nielsen TV ratings. Jordan would later return from 2001 to 2003 to play with the Washington Wizards, but did not win another championship.

“Michael Jordan game-worn sports memorabilia has proven time and time again to be the most elite and coveted items on the market,” said Brahm Wachter, Sotheby’s head of streetwear and modern collectables, in a press release.

The pair of sneakers going up for auction were worn during Game 2 in Salt Lake City, which the Bulls won 93-88 after losing Game 1, with Jordan scoring 37 points.

They are the last pair of black and red Air Jordan 13 designs that Jordan ever wore on the court for an NBA game, a press release from Sotheby’s noted.

Following Game 2, Jordan signed and gifted the set of worn shoes to the ball boy in the visitor’s locker room, which he was known to do, according to Sotheby’s.

Words to Learn 相关词汇

【纪念品】jìniànpǐn memorabilia things that are remarkable and worthy of remembrance

【收藏品】zshōucángpǐn collectable an object that is collected by fanciers

1998 年，迈克尔•乔丹穿上他标志性的黑红色 Air Jordan 13打了NBA总决赛的第2场，这一年是他最后一次带领公牛队夺冠。这双鞋正待价而沽，有望打破拍卖记录。纽约苏富比下个月将拍卖这双冠军球鞋，估价高达400万美元，公开竞标将于4月3日至11日在网上进行。乔丹在职业生涯早期穿过的一双耐克飞艇是目前的记录保持者 —— 2021 年拍出了147 万美元，那是一双球鞋的售价首次超过100万美元。今年是“乔丹年”，因为这位NBA明星的球衣号码是23。

今年1月，Air Jordan与苏富比合作拍卖了13双复古运动鞋，这些运动鞋是为纪念克里斯托弗•华莱士设计的。所有拍品的成交价都超过了5000美元的预估价，最贵的一双成交价超过32000美元。

去年，乔丹的第1场球衣，也是1998年总决赛的，在苏富比拍卖会上以1010万美元的价格成交，成为拍卖史上最贵的体育纪念品。

乔丹在芝加哥公牛队的告别赛季通常被称为“最后之舞”，这个名称来自记录这段历史的 ESPN和奈飞合拍纪录片。总决赛前几周乔丹宣布将第二次退役，根据尼尔森收视率榜，公牛对阵犹他爵士队的六场比赛创下NBA历史收视率最高记录。乔丹2001年到2003年回到华盛顿奇才队打球，但没能拿下另一个总冠军。

“迈克尔•乔丹的夺冠体纪念品被反复证明是市场上最顶级、最令人垂涎的物品，”苏富比街头服饰和现代收藏品主管布拉姆•瓦赫特在新闻稿中说。乔丹在第2场比赛中穿了这双待拍卖的运动鞋，比赛在盐湖城举行，公牛队输掉了第1场比赛，以93-88的比分赢了这一场，其中乔丹得到37分。苏富比的一份新闻稿指出，这双鞋是乔丹在NBA赛场上穿的最后一双黑红色Air Jordan 13。

苏富比说，第2场比赛结束之后，乔丹在访客更衣室给这双穿过的鞋签名并送给了球童，众所周知他常这么做。