Michael Jordan Air Jordan 1 Shattered Backboard Auction
The Sotheby’s Ascension Auction opens with a headline piece that feels almost unreal: the actual Air Jordan 1 “Chicago” worn by Michael Jordan during the famous Shattered Backboard game in Italy. Fans know that moment by heart, but seeing the shoe with a shard of glass still lodged in the outsole adds a weight that photos can’t capture. Jordan handed this pair to teammate Gianni Bertolotti after the exhibition, and photo-matching locks in its origin. It’s the kind of highlight that rarely appears on the market, even within a Sotheby’s sneaker auction.
The rest of the lineup builds on that momentum. A double-signed Air Jordan 12 “Flu Game” worn in the 1997 Playoffs, arrives with Jordan’s written confirmation. An Eminem x Air Jordan 4 “Encore,” an original 1984 Air Jordan 1 “Neutral Grey,” and PJ Tucker’s sample Air Jordan 11 “Heiress” push the Ascension sneaker auction into “museum-level” territory.
The offering stretches beyond rare Air Jordans. A signed adidas Kobe 2, three Jeremy Lin “Linsanity” Hyperdunks, and a SLAM Magazine sample of LeBron’s Air Zoom Generation round out the collectible basketball sneakers on display.
The Sotheby’s Ascension Auction exhibition runs at the New York headquarters from December 5th through December 12th, giving fans a rare chance to stand inches from sports history.
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