Michael Jordan’s Game 3 jersey from the 1998 NBA Finals is headed to auction, and owner Rob Gough believes the final number could land somewhere far beyond the current estimate.
The jersey was worn in the Bulls’ 96-54 win over the Utah Jazz on June 07, 1998, the same contest highlighted in an episode of the Netflix miniseries “The Last Dance.” That documentary became a massive hit when it arrived at the start of the global pandemic, pulling in basketball fans with little else to watch and introducing Jordan to younger viewers who had never seen him play. It also drew criticism from some of his former teammates, who were unhappy with how they came across.
Ahead of Pharrell Williams’ Joopiter auction, the piece is officially projected to bring in about 10-15 million. Gough, though, has made a much bolder claim elsewhere, saying Jordan’s jersey would be “the first jersey to hit $100 million.”
That figure may be a long shot, but the shirt is still in position to set a record. The most expensive Michael Jordan jersey sold at auction so far came from the same 1998 Finals, when his Game 1 jersey went for $10.091 million at Sotheby’s in 2022.
That game was a Bulls loss. Gough’s jersey comes from a Chicago win, giving it the added weight of the Bulls taking a 2-1 series lead over Utah.
Whatever the final bid ends up being, the jersey has already put itself in range to become the priciest Jordan game-worn piece ever sold at auction.
In Other News...
Jazz Quietly Turned The Kessler Deal Into A Lakers Problem
The Walker Kessler deal ended up looking like more than a simple roster move for Utah. By sending Kessler to the Lakers, the Jazz came away with significant draft capital while keeping their books clean, and they did it without taking on Jarred Vanderbilts contract in the process. For a team still shaping its long-term picture, that kind of flexibility matters almost as much as the return itself.
Vanderbilts situation has since become a headache for Los Angeles, especially because he was originally sent from Utah to the Lakers in the first place. The Jazz did not inherit that problem, and avoiding it has only sharpened the advantage in the transaction. Utah collected the assets and left the cap concern on the other side, which is the kind of quiet win front offices like to revisit later. [Read more 🡒]
Former Jazz Two-Way RJ Luis Is Suddenly At Center Of A Rare Fight
RJ Luis, who spent time as a two-way player with the Jazz and Celtics, has landed in the middle of an eligibility fight that could wind up mattering far beyond his own college future. A Louisiana judge recently granted him a temporary injunction, a step that could allow him to suit up for LSU in the 2026-27 season after ruling that he did not actually play professional basketball, the key issue in the dispute.
The NCAA is expected to challenge that ruling, setting up a rare case that echoes a recent eligibility battle involving Charles Bediako. For Utah fans, it is another reminder of how quickly a players path can change after a brief stop in the league, with Luis now waiting to see whether this legal opening holds long enough to settle his place in Baton Rouge. [Read more 🡒]
Jazz Fans Have Every Reason To Push Back On This Projection
ESPNs NBA Insiders did not exactly hand the Jazz much respect in their preseason projection, slotting Utah at 34-48 and 10th in the Western Conference. For a team that still has real talent on the roster, that kind of placement feels like the sort of prediction fans will immediately circle, especially with Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George among the names expected to shape the season.
There is at least a case for optimism in Salt Lake City, even if the West remains crowded and unforgiving. Utah is being weighed against teams with more proven star power, but Danny Ainge has never been shy about looking for ways to alter the picture, and the possibility of roster moves hangs over any forecast this early. For now, the projection says play-in range, but the Jazz have enough pieces to make that look conservative if things break right. [Read more 🡒]