Image: Grey Flannel Auction

Like Mike

There has been a lot of talk around game-worn and signed Michael Jordan sneakers lately. No matter where the conversation stands on the authenticity of certain high-profile pairs, the market for Michael Jordan’s Jordans is still moving strong — especially when the paperwork lines up.

Now, a pair tied to Jordan and the Bulls’ historic 72-win 1996 season has hit the auction block. With only one bid placed, the price has already climbed into five figures.

The game-worn and signed Air Jordan 11 “Concord” is being auctioned by Grey Flannel Auctions, with provenance connected to the Bulls’ February 16, 1996 win against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Minneapolis. Jordan finished the game with 35 points and seven rebounds, helping Chicago secure a 103–100 victory.

Two days later, the Bulls traveled to Indiana to face the Pacers. According to the auction listing, Jordan made good on a promise to a local ball boy, handing over the shoes and signing them after the game.

For collectors, that is where the value really starts — not just in the sneaker, but in the story attached to it.

The Provenance

A letter from the former Pacers ball boy ties the shoes directly back to Jordan and explains the signatures on the ankle collar of each pair. According to the letter attached to the auction, Jordan had promised him the shoes when the Bulls returned to Indiana on February 18, 1996.

“While in the locker room after the game, I accepted the shoes and requested that MJ autograph both shoes,” the letter states.

That detail is what pushes the pair beyond just another signed sneaker. For collectors, provenance is everything — and when the story, the signature, and the game history all line up, the market pays attention.

Auction Details

The 1996 game-worn and signed Air Jordan 11 “Concord” is currently live through Grey Flannel Auctions, with the active price sitting at $11,000 at the time of publication.

Is that number justified for a regular-season pair? That depends on what the buyer is really paying for. On paper, it is not a Finals pair or a championship-clinching moment. But it is still Jordan, it is still the Concord 11, it is still tied to the Bulls’ 72-win season, and it comes with the kind of story collectors chase.

In this market, the shoe is only part of the value. The rest is provenance, timing, signature, and cultural weight.

Image: Grey Flannel Auction