Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant’s first game-worn NBA jerseys are set to be auctioned at Sotheby’s – and they’re expected to fetch a pretty penny.
How much are people willing to pay for decades-old, sweat-covered jerseys from a couple of GOATs? Experts estimate they could fetch up to $20 million combined. That’s how much.
Jordan’s autographed Chicago Bulls jersey is from his NBA preseason debut on October 5, 1984, where he scored 18 points in 29 minutes.
Bryant’s Los Angeles Lakers jersey is from his regular-season debut on November 3, 1996, when he was the youngest player to appear in an NBA game at the time. Bryant only played six minutes, missing his lone shot, grabbing a rebound, and getting a blocked shot.
Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant's First NBA Jerseys Hit Auction, Could Fetch $20M | Click to read more 👇 https://t.co/7owT0nTuuU
— TMZ Sports (@TMZ_Sports) March 6, 2025
Jordan And Kobe Jerseys Are A Hot Commodity
Both Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan’s jerseys have been authenticated through photo-matching, confirming their historical significance as rare pieces from the start of two of the most legendary careers in NBA history.
The auctions, beginning March 21, capitalize on the surging popularity of rookie memorabilia, with each jersey potentially rivaling the record $10.1 million sale of Jordan’s 1998 Finals jersey from Game 1.
The Bulls defeated the Utah Jazz that season, a campaign forever chronicled in the “Last Dance.” Jordan had 33 points in a Game 1 loss. They would go on to defeat the Jazz in 6 games. It would be Jordan’s last title.
Sotheby’s is pushing the “historical weight” of these items, noting their uniqueness as “true one-of-one treasures” for collectors.
“They are as rare as they come,” notes Brahm Wachter, Sotheby’s head of modern collectibles. Indeed. You can only have one first game.
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Whose Will Sell For More?
The debate over which jersey will sell for more echoes the ongoing fan discussion about Jordan versus Bryant as perhaps two of the greatest players who ever set foot on a basketball court.
Air Jordan, widely regarded as the greatest basketball player of all time, dominated the NBA with the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s, winning six championships and earning six Finals MVP awards.
His career highlights include five regular-season MVP awards, 14 All-Star selections, and a scoring average of 30.1 points per game, the highest in NBA history.
Beyond his on-court success, Jordan’s global impact transcended sports, fueled by his iconic Air Jordan brand and memorable performances, like his 63-point playoff game against the Boston Celtics in 1986.
Kobe Bryant, an NBA legend with the Los Angeles Lakers, won five championships and earned two Finals MVP awards across his 20-year career, marked by a relentless work ethic known as the “Mamba Mentality.”
He secured one regular-season MVP award, 18 All-Star selections, and ranks fourth on the NBA’s all-time scoring list with 33,643 points, highlighted by an 81-point game in 2006, the second-highest single-game total ever.
Beyond basketball, Bryant’s influence grew through his Oscar-winning short film Dear Basketball and his advocacy for women’s sports, leaving a lasting legacy until his tragic death in a helicopter crash in 2020.
Granted, whichever jersey sells for more won’t end the debate, but one thing is for sure—they’re both better than LeBron James.
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