Bulls legend Michael Jordan is still setting records 19 years after retiring

Already holder of the regular season and playoff scoring average NBA records, Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan can now add another yet another accomplishment to an already historic resume. That’s because his game-worn jersey from the 1998 NBA Finals and famous “Last Dance” has sold for a record-breaking $10 million in an auction house.

What makes this sale so special is that it has officially become the highest-selling jersey of all time, surpassing Argentinian soccer legend Diego Maradona’s 1986 World Cup jersey which sold for $9.28 million earlier this year in May.

Completely smashing the projected $3 to $5 million projected auction price, this sale also completely eclipsed the previous record for an NBA jersey. The former holder was a jersey from Kobe Bryant’s rookie season that sold for $3.69 million.

Although it’s been over 20 years since he last suited up for the Chicago Bulls, Michael Jordan’s star power appears to be stronger than ever.

This is also just the second time in history that a sports collectible has sold for over $10 million. The other exorbitant collectible is a 1952 Mickey Mantle Topps card that was also sold for $12.6 million last month in August. Sotheby’s Auction House’s head of streetwear and modern collectibles had nothing but a glowing review to leave for the event.

"“”[The] record-breaking result, with an astounding 20 bids, solidifies Michael Jordan as the undisputed GOAT, proving his name and incomparable legacy is just as relevant as it was nearly 25 years ago.””"

It’s easy to see why this Last Dance jersey would be so highly coveted, as it was the beginning of the end for one of the greatest pro sports stories ever told. Jordan’s exit from the limelight went out with a bang as he defeated the Utah Jazz for his sixth and final championship ring, and it all started here with this jersey.

As ridiculous as the price tag was on this jersey, it’s crazy to think that the game-worn jersey from Game 6 of the same series would sell for even more due to the iconic nature of MJ’s game-winning steal and shot to seal the series.

Two decades after his retirement, fans clearly still can not get enough of Michael Jordan. The game has never before seen a player that has transcended the sports itself to become engrained in the culture like His Airness, and will likely never see another player like him ever again.