Michael Jordan, known the world over as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, played for fifteen seasons in the NBA and is most famous for his time with the Chicago Bulls (although he also played briefly for the Washington Wizards). Jordan is known for his outstanding athleticism, his relentless appetite for winning, and his standout performances for the Chicago Bulls.
Jordan was selected for the Chicago Bulls in 1984, as a third overall pick. His presence was soon a boon for the team; he won NBA Rookie of the Year in 1985. He is known for his scoring ability and for ten seasons he led the league in points per game. He holds the highest career scoring average in NBA history, with 30.1 points per game.
Jordan has also had enormous influence on sports branding, both during his time playing basketball and since his retirement. Jordan had endorsement deals throughout his career, most famously with Nike, and these endorsements revolutionised sports marketing. The Air Jordan collaboration with Nike launched in 1985, with the collection designed by Peter Moore. The shoe featured the “Jumpman” logo, and its advertising campaign set it apart from other sneakers. Each new release featured new designs and performance enhancing technology, blending sports utility with style. The brand was not just for sportspeople, but also became a mainstay of streetwear fashion.
The trainers are among some of the most highly coveted fashion items in the world. New releases cause great excitement and vintage varieties fetch enormous prices at auction. Below, we list some of the most expensive Jordans and where you might be able to find them at auction.
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Nike Air Jordan 1 High Dior Friends and Family | $15,000
These sneakers were released in 2020 for the 35th anniversary of the Air Jordan. It was the first luxury collaboration between a Parisian high fashion house and the sneaker brand. They were designed by Kim Jones, the artistic director for Dior Men and the design blends streetwear with high fashion. The trainers feature Dior Gray calfskin leather –one of Dior’s signature colours – and the Nike Swooshes are emblazoned with Dior’s monogram. For more information on how you might become the proud owner of these trainers you can visit Sotheby’s, who currently have a low top version of the trainer available for purchase for around $8100.
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Nike Air Jordan 1 Retro High Chrome Hearts Off-White NRG | $20,000
According to Sotheby’s, these trainers are exclusive, designed by Virgil Abloh as part of a commission from luxury streetwear brand, Chrome Hearts. The trainers have additional luxury hardware, with branded dubrés, adjustable lace locks, and metallic eyelets. This trainer amplifies the original Off-White design with additions from Chrome Hearts, including text printed on the trainer itself and the hardware noted above. These trainers are highly sought after so you have to move quickly when they come up for sale.
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Nike Air Jordan 1 Retro High Colette Au Revoir | $20,000
These are some of the most exclusive trainers on the market. In striking blue and white, they commemorate the 2017 closing of Parisian boutique Colette. Colette were famous for their work in high fashion and streetwear. This collaboration was originally created just for Colette employees and was never released beyond that, hence the exclusivity. The opening years of the boutique (1997–2017) are printed on the heels, with “bonjour” (hello) and “au revoir” (goodbye) on the soles. Sotheby’s have sold these trainers before at auction but there are none currently available.
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Nike Air Jordan 4 Retro Eminem Carhartt | $21,850
This highly sought-after sneaker was released in 2015. It is a limited-edition collaboration between rapper Eminem, the Jordan Brand, and Carhartt. It features a canvas upper, in keeping with Carhartt’s workwear style, and Eminem’s “E” logo on the heel. The trainer was created in honour of the 15th anniversary of Eminem’s “Shady Records” and was released only via auction, with proceeds going towards Eminem’s charity, the Marshall Mathers Foundation. Only ten pairs of these trainers were made available to the general public. Sotheby’s currently have one pair available for sale through their website.
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Nike Air Jordan 3 Retro x Nipsey Hussle Victory Lap | $25,000
These trainers were created to celebrate the life and work of the late rapper, Nipsey Hussle. The trainers were released posthumously and feature design elements from Hussle’s “Victory Lap” album. The sneaker features blue suede, with a VL logo and tributes to Nipsey and the impact he had on his community. The trainers were primarily created for his friends and family, but their popularity emphasises the huge influence Nipsey Hussle had in music and culture.
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Nike Air Jordan 1 OG High Chicago | $32,000
The most expensive Jordans you can buy are, of course, the original Air Jordan 1 Chicago, from 1985. These trainers were designed by Peter Moore, and they are some of the most coveted trainers of all time. In 1984, Nike honoured Michael Jordan with his own brand of shoes and laid the groundwork for the Jordan Brand and for the huge variety of collaborations we now see between sports players and brands. These trainers were so popular that Nike released a new signature pair each season. These trainers come in the original red, white and black colourway associated with Jordan himself.
For sneaker and basketball enthusiasts, Air Jordans are the gift that keeps on giving, with ever more creative collaborations and enduring quality. For those who are truly serious about their trainer collections, Sotheby’s is the place to look for a wide variety of vintage and limited edition Jordans. As evidenced on the list above, you often have to move quickly as these special trainers do not stay on sale for long, and that much is understandable given their long and fascinating history and the impact they have had on the sporting world since the 1980s.
