Matt Varga In the world of sports memorabilia, game-worn Michael Jordan items can be considered, well, the Michael Jordan of the category. Expectedly, nowhere is that more true than when it comes to footwear; a complete set of Finals kicks from his six trips, the legendary “Flu Game” Jordan 12 and a worn & signed pair of the Air Ship each made massive headlines at their time of sale as some of the most expensive memorabilia auctions ever. A new crop of contenders has emerged that’s likely to enter the mix, including the Air Jordan 8 “Playoffs” he sported during the 1995 NBA Finals.
The shoes come about as a part of the Sotheby’s “Genesis” collection, an assortment of MJ goodies assembled to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Mike’s NBA debut. Jordan wore this exact pair during the first half of Games 4 and 5. Game 4, in particular, is why these are set to command an eye-popping price tag. The Bulls’ 111-105 victory put them up 3-1 in the series, also containing a 55-point performance from the GOAT, his career-high on a Finals court.
If you’ve got the type of liquidity required to grab this pair, it’s unlikely that you’d even attempt it, but don’t expect a wearable pair of shoes on the other end of the sky-high price tag; the soles showcase just how much these are worn down by the years. If nothing else, it goes to show that even legendary footwear isn’t immune to Father Time.
Bidding for the Air Jordan 8 “Playoffs” begins on December 2nd, along with the rest of the “Genesis” collection. All the pieces included will be on display at Sotheby’s NYC from December 4th to December 10th. Check out some detailed shots ahead to get a sense before you get your bids in.
