NBA all-time great Michael Jordan is one of the most popular athletes ever. Because of his utter domination on the court, fans around the world loved him. And helped popularize the game of basketball while thrashing his opponents. Many fans consider him the GOAT.

Over the years, Jordan has made a fortune with his association with Nike. Similarly, Nike made a lot of money from the ‘Air Jordan.’ The Air Jordan sneakers are one of the most popular in the world. It sells out immediately after a release. However, Nike wasn’t always MJ’s preferred brand. During his college days, Jordan wore converse shoes for practice and games. And one of his game-worn shoes is set up for auction.

Jordan was born in Brooklyn and brought up in Wilmington, North Carolina. After his displays in high school, MJ joined the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to play for the Tar Heels.

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40th anniversary of the iconic Michael Jordan game-winner

During his first year in college, Michael Jordan he gave a pair of his game-worn shoes to roommate Chuck Duckett. ?I was a senior Michael?s freshman year and that?s how I got the shoes,” Duckett said. But Duckett had given the pair of shoes to his sister-in-law and didn’t know she kept them. To his surprise, she still has the shoes in good condition. Now the shoes are up for auction and could fetch Carolina basketball $1 million. Shoes from MJ’s rookie NBA season sold for a record $1.47 million at auction last year.

The UNC’s 1982 team celebrated its 40th anniversary of the National title win in January. And MJ was in attendance which gave Duckett the opportunity to talk with him and show him pictures of the sneakers.

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Duckett said, “He[Jordan] said, ‘Those are worth a lot of money, you should sell them.’ I told him my sister-in-law owned them, did he want them back? He said no. I suggested we put them on auction and give half of the money to Carolina Basketball. He looked at me and smiled and said ‘That?d be great, I?d really like that.?”

Duckett sent the shoes to Jordan, and he signed the shoes and sent it back for auction. Over the years, the Bulls legend never forgot his roots in North Carolina and gives back to the community. Basketball fans would never forget MJ’s iconic game-winner for the Tar Heels in the 1982 national championship finals. The game-winner doubled a young Jordan’s confidence and propelled him into the superstar we know him today.