NBA sports memorabilia has always captured the imagination of fans, investors, and collectors alike. From game-worn sneakers to signed basketballs, these items often fetch eye-popping sums. A LeBron James rookie card sold for $1.8 million, while Kobe Bryant’s 2007-2008 jersey commanded $5.8 million at auction. But what happens when a relic—deemed to never see the light of day—resurfaces years later?

This was precisely the buzz when Joshua De Vaney, a noted sports collector, unveiled an “unreleased” Michael Jordan toy during a recent podcast appearance. Speaking on the Pick and Roll podcast, De Vaney proudly showcased his most prized possession, a toy statue designed by Ohio Art in the mid-’90s that was never officially released. He had a story to reveal about how he learned the fact.

“I have bought sixteen of these, three separate purchases at that time and I accumulated these and I asked my friend in Chicago who’s a big Jordan collector for decades at that stage and said to him, do you know anything about this toy and he goes ‘no’. I said ‘it’s from Ohio Art, which is probably an hour or half away from you, have you ever bothered to contact the company’? He said ‘no.'”

Soon after, De Vaney would ring up the toy company and find a lady from the archive department on the other end. After a quick call, he emailed her the images and she got back to him, saying, “‘first of all, how’d you get these?’ I explained through eBay. And she goes, ‘these were something that were not meant to be released.’”

The toy in question is more than just a miniature statue of the basketball icon—it represents a curious chapter in Michael Jordan’s legacy. Designed by Ohio Art, a company famed for its Etch A Sketch, the toy was part of a planned series celebrating Jordan’s larger-than-life persona and cultural impact. However, plans for the toy’s release came to an abrupt halt when Nike, Jordan’s longtime sponsor, clashed with Ohio Art over licensing issues as the toy featured a white Air Jordan one.

“As you can see, as I hold these up for your viewers and yourself, there’s a Nike shoe on it. Now Jordan’s first shoe for those of you who don’t know. He actually wore while he was waiting for his Jordan One Airship… Nike could have intervened, hang on you’re using intellectual property of ours without an agreement for such so that could be a reason,” added Vaney during the podcast.

This revelation comes two years after the auction, where a jersey of the Chicago Bulls legend was sold at a price of $10.1 million. This jersey was unique because he wore it during the 1998 Finals and this was the highest amount that any Jordan memorabilia had ever fetched.

The unveiling of the toy underscores the enduring allure of Michael Jordan as both an athlete and a brand. More than two decades after his final NBA game, Jordan’s influence continues to command respect. However, this isn’t only the unique Jordan memorabilia possession of Vaney.

The rarest Jordan memorabilia

Michael Jordan memorabilia consistently dominates auctions, often fetching jaw-dropping prices. A prime example is the $2.2 million sale of an Air Jordan 13 “Bred” shoe in 2023. Yet, beyond high-profile items, some of the rarest pieces are those with minor flaws or unique quirks, making them irresistible to collectors.

Defects in production, such as misprints, stitching errors, or limited production runs, often elevate an item’s value. Interestingly, De Vaney has toy with similar characteristics. “I have one that’s different than the rest and that’s the one that I specify as the most rarest Michael Jordan toy. Out of all the ones that I have, this one has a white chest and that’s a paint flaw from the factory. And the Nike tick is also reversed,” said Vaney ( as per Perth Now News).

The Jordan memorabilia collector from Pert has also estimated the value of the toys from an expert and the value currently sits at $US70,000 to $80,000. Moreover, memorabilia collection isn’t the ultimate goal of the collector. He once in his life wants to have a conversation with the Windy City legend. Now, whether pristine or imperfect, these items represent the unparalleled legacy of the greatest basketball icon of all time.

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