Sotheby’s Auctioning Nike Air Ships Worn by Michael Jordan, Estimated to Be ‘The Most Valuable Sneaker Ever’ at $1.5 Million
Sotheby’s have curated a new collection that contains ‘the most valuable sneaker ever’ offered at auction: a pair of 1984 Air Ships worn by in just his fifth NBA game. Ahead of bidding later this month, the shoes are already estimated to sell for at least $1.5 million – with the possibility of eclipsing the that were sold for $1.8 million in a private sale through the auction house earlier this year.
Like previous uber-rare sneakers they’ve sold, Sotheby’s have painstakingly researched and verified the provenance of these Air Ships. Now regarded as the earliest known example of a shoe worn by MJ in a regular season NBA game, they were used on November 1, 1984 in an away game against the Denver Nuggets. After the 113 to 129 loss, MJ signed and gifted the shoes to Denver ball boy Tommie Tim III Lewis, who has kept them for over 35 years leading up to the auction. Included is Lewis’ original staff pass for that 1984-85 season!
The Air Ships are being auctioned alongside other rare artefacts in Sotheby’s ‘Icons of Excellence & Haute Luxury’ collection, which also consists of sports cars, handbags and wristwatches. It all goes down on October 24 at the ARIA Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.