Rookie Jerseys of NBA Legends Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant Expected to Fetch $20 Million at Auction

Two iconic rookie jerseys worn by NBA legends Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant are hitting the auction block at Sotheby's, with expectations of fetching a combined $20 million. The auction, scheduled to begin March 21, features Jordan's jersey from his first Chicago Bulls game on October 5, 1984, estimated at $10 million. Bryant's Los Angeles Lakers jersey from his 1996-97 rookie season is also expected to reach a similar price. Sotheby's notes a recent surge in demand for rookie memorabilia, exemplified by the $762,000 sale of Victor Wembanyama's debut jersey in 2023. Brahm Wachter, Sotheby's head of modern collectibles, emphasizes the rarity and historical significance of these jerseys, calling them "once-in-a-lifetime" opportunities for collectors to own pieces of basketball history. Jordan averaged 28.2 points per game in his rookie season, while Bryant, entering the NBA at 18, went on to win five championships.