A pair of Air Jordan 1s sold at auction for $ 615,000, Christie’s house announced on Thursday (August 13th), breaking the record for the most expensive sneakers in history, just three months after a first peak achieved by a similar model .
These shoes, which take the red and white trim, as well as the black “swoosh” (the comma of Nike) of the famous Air Jordan 1 Chicago model, were worn during a disputed friendly match on August 25, 1985 in Trieste, in Italy.
On a promotional tour for Nike, Michael Jordan had donned the jersey of Stefanel Trieste, one of the Italian first division teams, to play the match against Juve Caserta, which he was to finish with 30 points.
But this match is best known for a precise action, during which the American rear flew off at the end of the counterattack to dunker, causing a shock that caused the plexiglass to explode. The left shoe had retained a piece of it in its sole, said Christie’s, who initially estimated it at between $ 650,000 and $ 850,000 when it went on sale online on July 30.
Another pair of Air Jordan 1 worn in a match by the icon was sold in mid-May for $ 560,000 at Sotheby’s. A record that only lasted three months for sports shoes.
A prolific market
Ex-NBA superstar Michael Jordan was already one of the world’s most popular athletes, but the recent Netflix airing of the ten-part riverine documentary “The Last Dance” recently brought him back to the forefront. scene 17 years after his retirement from sports.
A wind of madness has since been blowing on all collectibles that relate to “MJ”, from jerseys to cards, including shoes.
Ultra-niche market Until recently, athletic footwear worn by athletes has grown in popularity in recent years with the arrival of a new generation of collectors.
In total, of the 11 pairs of Air Jordan worn in matches or belonging to the player that were offered in this online sale, nine were purchased, for a total amount of $ 931,875.
The Air Ships, the model worn by Michael Jordan at the very start of his first professional season in 1984, before the launch of the Air Jordan 1, did not find a buyer. This pair was estimated to be between $ 350,000 and $ 550,000.
