Michael Jordan sneakers worn in NBA games to be auctioned, one pair expected to fetch $500,000

11 pairs of sneakers worn by Michael Jordan in the NBA will be put up in an auction dubbed as Original Air with one pair expected to fetch more than half a million dollars.

Original Air is spearheaded by Stadium Goods and Christie's auction house. It will be an online-only auction with browsing to start on July 23, while bidding will start from July 30 to August 31.

Aside from game-worn and signed sneakers, also to be auctioned are Jordan Brand player exclusives that are ultra-rare.

Jordan's The Last Dance documentary has upped the prices of his memorabilia; thus, these sneakers are sure to fetch a good price either from Jordan fanatics, sneaker connoisseurs, and collectors.

Each pair of sneakers that would be auctioned highlights an important moment of "His Airness" basketball career. Each pair of Jordan’s game-worn sneakers will have the left shoe in a US size 13.5 while the right will be a US size 13. This is the same sizing as with most of Jordan’s sneakers.

The sneaker that is expected to get sold between $350,000 and $550,000 is the Nike Air Ship worn by Jordan in the NBA 1984 season wherein he was still a rookie and before the launch of the Air Jordan 1 signature model. Michael Jordan also wore this pair in some pre-season games.

Another pair that will also be highly coveted is the Olympic Air Jordan 7 worn by Jordan when he was part of the USA “Dream Team” in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. Appropriately so as this year is supposed to be an Olympic year.

Instead of “23”, the sneaker has the number “9” as that was Jordan’s jersey number when he played for the Dream Team alongside his Chicago Bulls teammate Scottie Pippen.

Another Jordan sneaker that is also expected to fetch a high price is the Air Jordan 11 in the “Concord” colorway, which he wore in the 1995-96 season, the season that he came back after a stint with baseball.

Part of the proceeds of the auction will be given to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, a US legal organization that champions racial injustice.

Michael Jordan has always been considered as the GOAT in the NBA, and only a few argue against it.

Image credit courtesy of Paul Volkmer/Unsplash