Historic Michael Jordan Game-Worn Air Jordan 1s from Iconic Rivalry Game Fetch Over $205,000 USD

Summary

• A pair of Michael Jordan’s game-worn Air Jordan 1s sold for $205,188 USD at Grey Flannel Auctions
• The sneakers were worn on October 26, 1985, during a heated game against the Detroit Pistons, and are authenticated via photo-match
• The shoes feature a rare “Double-Lacing” configuration and were signed by Jordan, having been sourced from the Chicago Bulls equipment manager

An extraordinarily rare pair of Michael Jordan‘s game-worn Air Jordan 1s, hailing from the early days of one of the NBA‘s most intense rivalries, has sold for $205,188 USD at Grey Flannel Auctions. These iconic sneakers were donned by Jordan on October 26, 1985, during only the second game of the 1985-86 season, a Chicago Bulls match against the Detroit Pistons where tensions ignited at Chicago Stadium.

The game became legendary after a hard foul on Jordan by Bill Laimbeer cleared the benches and led to the ejection of both head coaches. Despite the aggressive physicality, Jordan delivered a dominant performance, scoring 33 points and sealing the Bulls’ 121-118 victory with a clutch free throw.

Adding to their cultural weight, this specific game was immortalized on the 1986 Michael Jordan Star Co. #9 Rookie Card. The Air Jordan 1s themselves are museum-quality artifacts featuring a rare “Double-Lacing” configuration with both red and black laces, a style Jordan wore only on select occasions. Their authenticity is secured through a photo-match to the October 26, 1985 game and impeccable provenance, having been acquired directly from the Chicago Bulls equipment manager, John Ligmanowski. Jordan personally signed the inside heel of each shoe in black ink.