Sports memorabilia have a unique charm for fans and collectors, which maintain their dominance in the market. From signed jerseys to trading cards, these items hold massive value for avid fans. One rare piece from Kobe Bryant‘s career fetched jaw-dropping prices at an auction, becoming the most expensive Bryant memorabilia ever sold. However, the top spot for the most expensive NBA jersey sold still belongs to none other than NBA great Michael Jordan. Despite that, the newest collectible related to his career might not achieve its estimated price.

Have collectibles related to Jordan’s career lost their charm and nostalgia? Several game-worn memorabilia from Jordan’s career have made millions at auction. A shining example is the jersey that Jordan wore during Game 1 of the 1998 NBA Finals. This brought in a whopping $10.1 million at a Sotheby’s auction. However, the current value of his most recently auctioned game uniform is quite surprising.

The  Heritage Auctions’ Spring Sports Catalog Auction brings an away-game uniform which is said to be from the 1992–1993 season as per CBS. This was the third of six Bulls championship seasons during the 1990s. Authenticated by MeiGray and photo-matched to 17 regular-season games, this jersey is a gem, but its lack of confirmed playoff wear might be holding back bigger bids.

As per the reports, Jordan wore the uniform in nearly 17 games, and it has been photo-matched. Another photo where Jordan was seen wearing the jersey was on the cover of a very somber issue of SI in the fall of that year after Jordan announced his first retirement. From the October 18, 1993 edition of the magazine, the photo shows Jordan walking across the court from the back, and it featured the word, “Why?”

There are no photos to show whether he wore the jersey for any of the playoff games. That year, Jordan played in all 78 games, averaging 32.6 points and 6.7 rebounds. While it is expected to fetch $2 million, the first bid is only $662,500. It is currently up for sale.

The expected value of the uniform is nowhere close to the number fetched by Jordan’s rare rookie year jersey.

Michael Jordan’s rookie jersey failed to meet expectations

As of now, the renowned auction house Sotheby’s holds the record for selling some of the most expensive NBA game jerseys. The $10.1 million jersey was also sold at Sotheby’s. Just a few days ago, the auction house sold yet another piece of game memorabilia from Jordan’s career, his rookie year jersey, photomatched by authenticator MeiGray.

He wore the jersey multiple times, including during his second and third preseason games. While this was expected to fetch $10 million, it was sold for $4.2 million. But here is the most surprising detail about the jersey. 

Back in 1984, a collector had the chance to buy the jersey for $1,000. Despite the price being far less than what it sold for in the present, the collector chose not to. As a result, it went to an underbidder who secured the jersey for just $800.

Along with this jersey, the auction house also featured Bryant’s rookie year jersey, which was also expected to reach $10 million. Its first bid was around $5 million. Later in April, it was revealed that it sold for $7 million and is now considered Kobe’s most expensive jersey. While it’s unlikely for the newest collectible to surpass the Chicago Bulls legend’s $10.1 million sale, auctions can be quite unpredictable when it comes to the sale of such rare masterpieces.