Michael Jordan’s and Kobe Bryant’s rookie NBA jerseys are expected to sell for $10 million each at auction this spring, per Sotheby’s.
The jerseys, worn in their first NBA games, symbolize their “humble beginnings” and could fetch a combined $20 million.
“They are as rare as they come,” said Brahm Wachter, Sotheby’s head of modern collectibles.
Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant’s first game-worn NBA jerseys will soon be up for auction at Sotheby’s, with experts estimating that the two jerseys could collectively sell for up to $20 million 🤯
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) March 6, 2025
(Via @TMZ_Sports ) pic.twitter.com/mLQLIp7r6d
Jordan’s jersey, authenticated through photo-matching, is the only game-worn piece from his rookie season ever to hit auction. It was verified from his preseason debut on Oct. 5, 1984. Sotheby’s noted dark stains beneath his name and number 23, likely from previous players, highlighting his early days before becoming a global icon.
Michael Jordan played his first professional game in Peoria–a Chicago Bulls exhibition game on October 5, 1984, played at the Peoria Civic Center in front of 2,100 fans. Sotheby's is auctioning off Jordan's jersey from that game-expected to sell for millions of dollars. pic.twitter.com/p1Q9yHCRNc
— Jim Mattson (@hoijim) March 6, 2025
Bryant’s No. 8 Lakers jersey has been photo-matched to key moments, including his first NBA Media Day and preseason debut in October 1996. It represents the start of a career that brought five NBA championships and two Finals MVP awards.
On this date in 1996, it became official: 17-year-old Kobe Bryant was a Laker.
— ESPN (@espn) July 11, 2017
He never played for anyone else. pic.twitter.com/6jEnxTMOp2
The auction reflects the rising value of rookie memorabilia. The most expensive item ever sold was a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card, which went for $12.6 million in 2022. Bryant’s 2007-08 MVP season jersey sold for $5.8 million last year, while Jordan’s 1998 NBA Finals jersey remains the most valuable basketball jersey at $10.1 million.
The rookie jerseys will be on public display at Sotheby’s in New York starting March 21.
Michael Jordan’s return to the NBA was anything but ordinary
Michael Jordan returned to the court on March 19, 1995, against the Indiana Pacers. He wore No. 45, not his famous No. 23. The number marked a fresh start, linked to his past. He had led the Bulls to three straight NBA titles before retiring in 1993. His father, James Jordan, was murdered that year, prompting his exit. Jordan then tried baseball with the Birmingham Barons, a Double-A team tied to the White Sox. Basketball pulled him back. After 18 months, he declared his return.
(1995) 24 years ago today, Jordan came back wearing the 4-5. pic.twitter.com/HNYBOESk2Q
— Timeless Sports (@timelesssports_) March 19, 2019
Playing without his father for the first time, Jordan said:
“I just felt naked because my father wasn’t there.”
He scored 19 points but struggled, shooting 7-for-28 in a 103-96 overtime loss. Nine days later, he dropped 55 points at Madison Square Garden, proving he was still a force.
Jordan stuck with No. 45 through the regular season and the first round of the playoffs. But in the conference semifinals against the Magic, things changed. Orlando’s Nick Anderson stole the ball from Jordan in a crucial moment of Game 1, leading to a Magic win. Afterward, Anderson took a jab, per CBS:
“45 isn’t 23”
Jordan took that personally. Before Game 2, he switched back to No. 23, taking a $25,000 fine from the league. It didn’t matter. He erupted for 38 points, leading Chicago to victory. Despite his efforts, the Bulls lost the series in six games.
That loss fueled Jordan. His trainer, Tim Grover, recalled that the night Chicago was eliminated, Jordan didn’t take time off.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he told Grover, ready to get back to work.
The next season, six-time NBA champion Jordan reclaimed his throne. He won his fourth MVP, led the Bulls to a historic 72-10 record, and secured his fourth championship: kickstarting Chicago’s second three-peat.
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I am a writer passionate about telling the stories behind the game of basketball. From the culture and personalities shaping the sport to the moments that define it, I explore basketball beyond the box score.
