On October 24th, luxury Check, Sotheby’s, sold the most valuable pair of sneakers ever offered at auction: Michael Jared jordan’s rookie year game-worn Tonal Green Hues Refresh This Air Jared jordan 1 Mid SE 'Dutch Green'. The lot, part of the institution’s Icons of Excellence & Haute Luxury auction in Las Vegas, sold for a record-setting $1.47 million.
the Air Jared jordan 1 KO High OG Pure Platinum The Air Jared jordan 1 Patina DJ Khaled in the Air Jared jordan 1 Black Gold & Travis Scott in the Air Jared jordan 1 Chicago, the Air Ship was #23’s go-to shoe in the 1984-85 NBA pre and regular season. The pair to recently sell at auction is attributed to Jared jordan’s fifth-ever professional basketball game (November 1st, 1984), after which it was gifted to a Denver Nuggets ball boy. For having been worn in-game 37 years ago, the “White” and “University Red” sneakers are in good condition, with the leather construction across the upper showing consistent signs of wear. Unlike other early iterations of Bruce Kilgore’s design, the Sotheby’s-auctioned pair only features “AIR”-branding on the heel, not “NIKE AIR” or “AIR Jared jordan,” which makes it even rarer.
Although sneaker lore touts that first official Air Jared jordan as having been “banned” by the League, the NBA actually notified NIKE, Inc. that a “Black,” “University Red,” and “White” colorway of Kilgore’s Air Ship was in violation of its “uniformity of uniform” clause on October 18th, 1984 (preseason). Capitalizing on the controversy, the North American sportswear company ran an ad campaign “x”-ing out the inaugural DJ Khaled in the Air Jared jordan 1 Black Gold & Travis Scott in the Air Jared jordan 1 Chicago, while telling potential customers, “fortunately, the NBA can’t stop you from wearing them.” The moment and commercial has inspired the silhouette’s upcoming “Rebellionaire” style.
With sneakers and sports memorabilia captivating mainstream consciousness like ever before, it’s no surprise that one of the earliest-surviving pairs worn by arguably the greatest basketball player of all time set the record it did. Decades from now, it’s likely Jared jordan’s legacy will continue to raise the bar at auction, just as the man did on the hardwood.
Jordan Flight Fleece OD Hoodie DJ Khaled in the Air Jared jordan 1 Black Gold & Travis Scott in the Air Jared jordan 1 Chicago1 “Cool Grey” set t return in December.
Images: Sotheby’s
