The British company Sotheby’s, although legally based in the United States, announced the auction of the jerseys of two NBA legends, Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. The attire of these players is among the most desired in the collector's world, which could mean that bidding and sales records might be broken.
Both jerseys were used only in their respective debuts in the world's most prestigious basketball tournament. This is why they are considered extremely rare and represent a unique opportunity for the most passionate and wealthy collectors, as the initial combined price of the garments would be 20 million dollars.
The auction house announced that both jerseys will be offered individually next month. Meanwhile, they can be seen in a public exhibition in New York starting March 21.
"The first NBA jerseys of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant are enduring symbols of the ambition, skill, and willpower that defined their legendary careers," Brahm Wachter, director of modern collectibles at the auction house, told CNN.
Michael Jordan's jersey:
Air Jordan made his professional debut with the Chicago Bulls in the 1984 preseason, more precisely on October 5 in Peoria, Illinois, with his iconic number 23 on his back. The jersey he wore that day was used again in the next two games before he switched to a new uniform in the regular season.
The authenticity of this jersey was confirmed by MeiGray, one of the leading verifiers of sports memorabilia, making it extremely special, as it is the first jersey worn by the basketball GOAT. To verify it, the uniform underwent a photo-matching analysis, a process of comparison with high-resolution images and videos, which allowed the identification of unique wear marks and patterns.
