Rare Sports Memorabilia, Including Items from Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and More, Could Fetch $12 Million at Sotheby’s

Sotheby’s, renowned for its historic auctions, is set to make waves once again with its inaugural Sports Week event, showcasing collectibles from some of the world’s greatest athletes. Scheduled to commence on April 5 in New York, the series will feature six live and online auctions boasting over 350 pieces of sports memorabilia. From game-worn jerseys to iconic sneakers, the auction will present items from legends like Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Wayne Gretzky, and Muhammed Ali, with estimates ranging from $500 to $6 million.

Sotheby’s, the esteemed auction house known for its historic sales, is poised to make history once more with its first-ever Sports Week event. This unique series, set to debut on April 5 in New York, will showcase a diverse collection of sports memorabilia from some of the most iconic athletes in history. With over 350 items up for auction, including game-worn jerseys and legendary sneakers, enthusiasts will have the opportunity to acquire pieces from legends such as Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Wayne Gretzky, and Muhammed Ali, with estimated values ranging from $500 to $6 million.

Sotheby´s steps futher into the sports memorabilia market

The auctioneer has expressed excitement about the event, emphasizing the unprecedented demand for distinctive sports artifacts. Brahm Wachter, Sotheby’s head of modern collectibles, highlighted the passion within the collector community for acquiring fresh and unique pieces with significant historical value. Among the highlights of Sports Week is a pair of Muhammad Ali’s match-worn shorts from the historic 1975 Thrilla in Manila bout against Joe Frazier, expected to fetch between $4 million and $6 million.

For basketball enthusiasts, the auction offers highly coveted items such as Michael Jordan’s game-worn Air Jordan 11s from the 1996 NBA Finals, priced between $200,000 and $400,000. Similarly, Kobe Bryant’s adidas Top Ten kicks from his rookie season and his Los Angeles Lakers jersey from Game 1 of the 2009 NBA Finals are anticipated to sell for $1.5 million to $2.5 million. LeBron James’s Lakers jersey from his 38,000th point game and his 2024 NBA All-Star jersey are also among the prized possessions available for bidding, with estimated values of $500,000 and $300,000, respectively.

Additionally, collectors will have the chance to acquire jerseys worn by Steph Curry and Sabrina Ionescu from this year’s three-point contest, as well as Wayne Gretzky’s game-worn St. Louis Blues jersey from the 1995-1996 season, estimated at $400 to $500,000. Other notable items include Ernie Banks’s jersey from his 500th home run and a signed, game-worn “Shattered Backboard” jersey from Michael Jordan’s 1985 season, both expected to fetch hundreds of thousands of dollars. In total, the entire collection is projected to exceed $12 million in sales.