Michael Jordan Game-Worn UNC Jersey Auctions for $1.38 Million USD

A jersey that Michael Jordan wore during his 1982-1983 championship season at the University of North Carolina has sold for a whopping $1.38 million USD at Heritage Auctions.

According to reports, the sale made history to become the most expensive Jordan jersey ever sold. The article of clothing was worn during a UNC-Stanford game at the Stanford Invitational Tournament, and a local high school student who was working as a locker room attendant for the visiting team kept the jersey. Heritage Auctions added that the jersey is the only one that was photo-matched to his “Player of the Year” photo on The Sporting News; Jordan can be seen wearing a uniform that’s dressed in the traditional Tar Heel colors, his number 23 and his last name and the school’s.

“As the final price tag proves, this jersey has everything any serious collector could possibly want,” Heritage director of sport auctions Chris Ivy said. “It’s got scarcity, it’s one of a kind, it’s photo-matched,” he added, continuing, “It’s a great investment. That’s another angle. … It’s something that you’re investing in. I think this is as solid as it gets.”

Photo-matching is a process now used to authenticate game-used/worn memorabilia, with Ivy further explaining that the high-resolution images of the jersey and Jordan’s The Sporting News cover should show ”corresponding mesh holes, lettering and other threading at multiple points.”

“As far as collectors go, that’s iron-clad,” he added. “That comfort level is what allows us to generate such a significant price.”

Prior to the sale of the UNC jersey, the record for most expensive Jordan jersey was held by a 1986-1987 game-worn Chicago Bulls uniform that sold $480,000 USD.