According to foreign media reports, at the Sotheby's Icons of Excellence & Haute Luxury auction held in Las Vegas, USA, a pair of Nike Air Ships sneakers worn by Michael Jordan during the rookie season were sold for nearly $1.5 million, breaking the record for the most expensive competition sports footwear.
It is reported that before the auction, the pair of sneakers was estimated to be between $1 million and $1.5 million. Eventually, it was auctioned off by high-end card collector Nick Fiorella for $1,472,000.
Brahm Wachter, head of Sotheby's Streetwear and Modern Collectibles division, said: "From the moment the news of this pair of sneakers selling for nearly $1.5 million came out, it caused a huge sensation. This remarkable achievement not only illustrates the strength of the collectibles market, but also shows the public's respect for the famous star Mr. Jordan. ”
Nike Air Ships, a Nike shoe for the competition, was designed by Bruce Kilgore and featured red and white as the main colors. It was Jordan's first pair of basketball shoes worn as a professional player, and they predate Nike's iconic Air Jordan series.
Jordan wore the size 13 Nike Air Ships sneakers in his fifth NBA game on November 1, 1984, when he played against the Denver Nuggets. He had 17 points, five rebounds and five assists in 33 minutes. After the game, Jordan gave the pair of shoes signed with his name to Denver Nuggets caddy Tommie Tim III Lewis, who carefully preserved it.
Nike Air Ships sneakers sold at auction more than double the previous record holders. A pair of Air Jordan 1 sneakers at Christie's auction last summer sold for $615,000. It was a pair of shoes Jordan wore during preseason games in Italy in 1985, when he smashed a rebound with a left sole and a piece of glass.
In addition, they are the most expensive race sneakers sold at auction and the second highest ever sold. Earlier, a prototype of the Nike Air Yeezy 1 shoe that Kanye West wore at the 2008 Grammy Awards was sold for $1.8 million at Sotheby's private sale last April.
Wuhan Morning Post intern reporter Zhang Jiao