The final jersey donned by Michael Jordan during his iconic NBA career, and later autographed by the legend, recently sold for $570,000 at auction following 19 bids and opening with a $75,000 minimum.
Jordan wore the jersey during his final season with the Washington Wizards in a road game against the Philadelphia 76ers on April 16, 2003.
At 39 years old, Jordan had 15 points, four rebounds and four assists in a 107-87 loss to the Sixers.
The NBA legend played for the Wizards for two seasons following his departure from the Chicago Bulls after the 1997-98 campaign and sitting out the three subsequent seasons in retirement.
According to Goldin Auctions, which handled the sale, Jordan wore the jersey for the last 14 road games of his final season. The listing notes that the “blue mesh Wizards jersey displays heavy game use having been laundered multiple times and shows puckering of the twill letters and numbers, along with loose threads.”
The authenticated jersey comes from the collection of George Koehler, a longtime Jordan confidant who was once the star’s limousine driver before becoming his personal assistant and ultimately a friend.
The increased interest in Jordan memorabilia of late — and the stunning amount of money changing hands — is in large part inspired by the “The Last Dance,” the 10-part docuseries on ESPN that chronicled Jordan’s career and his final season with the Bulls that turned into a pop culture phenomenon last year.
In fact, a ticket stub from Jordan’s debut with the Bulls in 1984 yielded a $24,907 winning bid at auction. A jersey worn by His Airness during a 1998 game that was later autographed by the Bulls legend sold for $240,000 at auction in August. Most recently, a Jordan rookie card fetched a record $150K at auction in December.
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