Earliest Known Michael Jordan Game-Worn Nike Shoes Sell for Nearly $72K
UPDATE: 4/27/15: The totals are in for the SCP Auction that included game-worn shoes from Michael Jordan's rookie season. The shoes sold for a final realized price of $71,553. This makes the rookie sneakers the highest-selling Michael Jordan shoes outside of the 1997 Finals Flu Game Jordans that sold for over $100k.
Michael Jordan's famed Air Jordans have taken on a life of their own and have become one of the hottest commodities in the sporting world. However, an early pair of Nike shoes that were worn by Michael Jordan during his rookie season, and pre-date his popular shoe line, will be featured in the 2015 SCP Auctions Spring Premier.
The shoes in question were worn by Michael Jordan in a 1984 game versus the Los Angeles Lakers in which he scored 20 points during a 113-112 win. Although they are not from the Air Jordan line, the shoes are notable because they are from Michael Jordan's rookie season and are the only known pre-Air Jordan, game-worn sneakers to come available.
These red-and-white Nike Air basketball shoes are being sold by the only owner they have ever had since they left Jordan's feet on December 2, 1984. Khalid Ali, a ballboy for the Los Angeles Lakers during the 1984-85 season, was given the shoes following the game after asking for a pair during pre-game warmups. Although Ali had his eye on the three-color pair Jordan was originally wearing in warmups, Jordan switched to the red-and-white pair for the game, and those were the shoes presented to Ali. Michael Jordan also signed each sneaker.
“These are very rare shoes indeed,” said SCP Auctions spokesman Dan Imler. “Jordan actually handed these to the attending Lakers’ ball boy after the game and they have stayed in his possession for the past 31 years. Their provenance is flawless.”
Bidding begins on April 8, 2015 at SCP Auctions and could push beyond $50,000. The auction comes to a close on Saturday, April 25.
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