Considered a niche 10 years ago, sneakers are today one of the most dynamic auction markets, attracting the attention of the general public as well as wealthy collectors.
Auction , Gamers Only
, organized entirely online, featured 13 pairs of sneakers having played a few games of some of the greatest players in the NBA, including Scottie Pippen, Shaquille O’Neal and Michael Jordan.
“The Air Jordan 1 are one of the Grails”
The pair he wore during his extraordinary first season in the NBA with the Chicago Bulls, in 1984-1985, was sold for the sum of $ 152,500 this Wednesday, May 12 during an international sale at Sotheby’s entirely dedicated to sneakers.
They had previously been exhibited in Geneva, alongside exceptional jewelry, watches and handbags, during the Luxury Week auction organized by Sotheby’s in the Swiss city.
Les Nike Air Jordan 1 have not only changed the basketball shoe forever, but are also considered to be the founders of the sneaker culture
, Sotheby’s said.
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Now 58, Mr. Jordan was a six-time NBA champion and widely regarded as the greatest basketball player of all time.
The Air Jordan 1 are one of the Grails
, estimates Josh Pullan, managing director of the luxury division of Sotheby’s.
There is a bit of wear and tear on the toe and around the heels, and it reminds us of what happened during games when they were worn
, he added. This pair comes from someone who knew Michael Jordan personally, so they really come with that impeccable origin.
.
The second most expensive pair is that of Stephen Curry
The second most expensive pair of sneakers were Stephen Curry’s Under Armor, both signed, from the 2015-16 season, when the Golden State Warriors point guard was named the best player in the NBA (MVP, most valuable player
) for the second time in a row.
The youthful, cobalt blue sneakers, worn for four matches, went for $ 20,800.
Other shoes reaching five-figure prices were a pair of Adidas Superstars, worn by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar during his 1979-1980 season with the Los Angeles Lakers, which he finished with the NBA and MVP titles (his sixth) in poached. They were sold for $ 18,030.
According to Sotheby’s, the sneaker market has brought a new, younger audience to the auction world.
Last month, the company sold a pair of Nike Air Yeezy 1 worn by rapper Kanye West for $ 1.8 million (€ 1.5 million).
These shoes, worn during the 2008 Grammy Awards, smashed the previous auction record for sneakers.
He was beaten in August 2020, at $ 615,000, during an auction at Christie’s, by the Nike Air Jordan 1 worn in 1985 by the eponymous player during an episode remained famous, when he smashed a basketball backboard during a match.
Wednesday’s sale also featured shoes worn by other NBA greats: Charles Barkley, Steve Nash, Kevin Garnett, Patrick Ewing, Dominique Wilkins, Allen Iverson, Moses Malone and Isiah Thomas.
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