The jersey Michael Jordan was wearing in the only game in which he shattered a glass backboard is going on the auction block. The news comes five months after the shoes he was wearing that day-with tiny pieces of glass still embedded in the soles– sold for $615,000.
The jersey is one of several items being sold by Sotheby’s in an auction dedicated to Jordan-abilia that opened Wednesday. “Shattered” also includes a pair of game-worn, autographed rookie era Air Jordan shoes and a signed Upper Deck cards graded 10 by Beckett.
The signed jersey is on consignment from Carlo Stefanel, whose organization was the sponsor of a team Jordan suited up for in a Nike exhibition game held in Trieste, Italy during the summer after Jordan’s rookie season.
The most memorable part of Jordan’s 30 point performance came when Jordan – almost flying towards the net – executed a dunk that resulted in the entire backboard erupting, spraying shards of glass all over the court.
The moment has inspired some of Nike’s most popular Air Jordan 1 releases and is one of the brand’s most coveted colorways.
“I am remarkably excited to bring this game-worn historic ‘Shattered Backboard’ jersey to market from my personal collection,” Stefanel stated. “It was an honor for Stefanel to sponsor the Stefanel Trieste team, and to be part of such an iconic moment of Michael Jordan’s incredible legacy.”
The jersey has been authenticated by MeiGray and has never been offered at public auction before. It’s expected to sell for $300,000-$500,000.
The sale also features multiple pairs of Jordan game-used and signed sneakers, including a pair of Air Jordan 1s from 1985 – the same type of iconic pair that Sotheby’s sold this past summer for a record-setting $560,000—and another pair of shoes worn in the 1995-96 NBA Finals that are expected to sell for $60,000-$80,000. The latter pair was designed by legendary Nike designer Tinker Hatfield who realized Jordan would roll his foot on hard cuts while playing, and took the opportunity to build a sneaker that would better suit the company’s most famous client. The patent leather on the uppers of the shoe additionally allowed Jordan to wear the sneakers with a suit. Both shoes are inscribed “Best Wishes, Michael Jordan.”
The ‘Shattered’ auction will also include a 2004-05 Upper Deck Ultimate Collection Achievements Signatures Jordan card that’s been graded and authenticated as a Black Label BGS 10.
One of 69 issued, it’s the only one rated at that level and comes from the collection of Ryan Chang. It’s expected to bring $30,000-$50,000.
Bidding will run through December 3.
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