Sneakers have entered the high-end auction world via game-worn rarities, signed prototypes, and ultra-limited releases. Here are the records.
1. Michael Jordan 1984 Olympic Game-Worn Converse Fastbreak
Worn by Jordan in the 1984 Olympic gold medal game. Sold at Sotheby’s for $190,372 in 2021. Earlier-game examples could exceed this.
2. Michael Jordan 1998 NBA Finals Game-Worn Air Jordan 13s
Worn during Game 2 of the 1998 NBA Finals — “The Last Dance” series. Sold at Sotheby’s for $2.2 million in 2023.
3. Nike Air Yeezy 1 Prototype (Kanye West)
Worn by Kanye West at the 2008 Grammys. Sold at Sotheby’s for $1.8 million in 2021.
4. Michael Jordan 1985 Air Jordan 1 PE Player Edition
Player exclusive worn during the 1985 season. Examples in worn-but-preserved condition reach $400,000-$700,000.
5. Nike Waffle Racing Flat 1972 (Bill Bowerman Prototype)
One of 12 prototypes hand-made by Bill Bowerman as the first Nike-branded sneaker. Sold at Sotheby’s for $437,500 in 2019.
6. 1984 Air Jordan 1 Sample (Original Bred)
Original 1984 production sample of the first Air Jordan, pre-release. Verified examples reach $200,000-$400,000.
7. Michael Jordan 1984 NBA Rookie Game-Worn Sneakers
Worn during Jordan’s 1984-85 rookie season. Documented examples sell for $300,000-$500,000.
8. LeBron James 2003 Rookie Game-Worn Air Zoom Generations
Sold at Sotheby’s for $156,000. Earlier Game 1 of his rookie season could fetch significantly more.
9. Kobe Bryant 81-Point Game Game-Worn Nike Hyperdunk Predecessors
Sold for $200,000+. The 2006 81-point game against Toronto is one of the most legendary individual performances.
10. Nike SB Dunk Low “Paris” 2003
Limited to 200 pairs and considered the holy grail of Dunk SB collecting. Mint examples reach $40,000-$90,000.
Authentication
Goldin and Sotheby’s handle the major sneaker auctions. PSA/DNA, MeiGray, and Resolution Photomatching authenticate game-worn examples. StockX and GOAT focus on retail authentication; their authentication doesn’t extend to game-worn provenance. For any sneaker over $5,000, demand auction-house provenance and photo-match documentation.
You Might Also Like