It’s no surprise to shoe lovers that Nikes can sell for a fortune. With special edition Nike collaborations and limited-edition drops, some shoes can sell for hundreds if not thousands of dollars.
But there is one pair of Nikes that has them all beat. The most expensive Nike shoes might surprise you, and the price tag will leave your jaw on the floor. Needless to say, the most expensive Jordans will take a little more than mowing lawns or selling lemonade for the summer.
Tighten up those laces because the following sneakers will give you a bit of a shock.
Air Jordan 12 ‘Flu-Game’ Shoes
It was June 11, 1997. Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls were coming off a dominant season in the NBA’s Eastern Conference. Now it was the NBA Finals, and they were going head-to-head against an intimidating Utah Jazz for the NBA Championship.
Michael Jordan got the flu. For many professional athletes, that would put them out of commission for any hopes of competing. But that’s not how Michael Jordan was wired. His will to win pushed him onto the basketball court, and he forced himself to compete despite his illness.
Michael Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to a win at the Delta Center that night, and Michael Jordan scored an eye-popping 38 points. The Bulls would go on to win the NBA Finals the following game. Thus, the “Flu Game” became something of a legend.
Michael Jordan’s game-worn signed Flu Game Shoes sold for $1.38 million at an auction. They were initially given to Preston Truman, a ball boy for the Utah Jazz who cared for the visiting teams’ locker room.
Game-Worn Nike Air Ships
These Nike Air Ships have just as much history as the previous shoes. Michael Jordan wore these particular Air Ships in his fifth-ever NBA game and the earliest known Jordan-attributed shoes available on the market.
During the time, Nike’s seminal deal with Michael Jordan was underway, but his signature Air Jordan 1 shoe wasn’t available yet, so these were some of the shoes Nike supplied him with until those were ready. These shoes still had the word “Air” or “Air Jordan” printed on the back.
These Nike Air Ships sold in 2021 and, at the time, were the highest-selling shoes ever sold at auction. Their final selling price was $1.47 million, and they went to a trading card collector named Nick Fiorella. The shoes were originally gifted to a ball boy who worked for the Denver Nuggets.
Nike Air Yeezy 1 ‘Prototype’
Kanye West is no stranger to controversy. The acclaimed, Grammy-winning rapper has been featured on many albums as a collaborator and got his start as a beatmaker out of the Chicago area. Many people had no idea he would grow a fashion empire.
In 2008, there was speculation that Kanye West was teaming up with Nike for a collaboration, but nothing was confirmed until West wore these shoes to the annual Grammy Awards ceremony. The shoes featured the over-lace strap that became iconic to the Yeezy brand, and even included a glow-in-the-dark outsole that fit with the time’s Graduation/Glow in the Dark Tour appearance.
The Nike Air Yeezy 1 ‘Prototype’ sold for $1.8 million at an auction in 2021. Sneaker investment company RARES purchased it.
Game-Worn Air Jordan 13
The Last Dance. Michael Jordan’s final season with the Chicago Bulls.
The Bulls were already down 1-0 to the Utah Jazz, and statistically, most teams that go up 2-0 in a Finals series go on to win the Championship. Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls knew they needed to win Game 2 to secure a chance of winning the Championship, and they pulled through. These are the shoes that Michael Jordan won in that game.
They were a gift to a Utah Jazz ball boy after the ball boy located Michael Jordan’s lost jacket the day before the game. The ball boy asked for his game sneakers as a thank you, which Michael Jordan delivered graciously.
The shoes sold for an astronomical $2.2 million at auction in 2023.
The Dynasty Collection
It’s like having all of the Dragon Balls or Infinity Stones. The Dynasty Collection is every pair of shoes Michael Jordan wore for the clinching games of each NBA Championship he won. Six pieces of basketball history gathered together under one of the greatest players ever to dribble.
These sneakers represent more than just the shoes worn in important basketball games. They symbolize the legendary partnership between Michael Jordan and Nike, which blossomed into a multi-billion dollar brand.
Is it any wonder this collection sold for a whopping $8 million at auction? Combined, these are the most expensive Nike shoes ever sold.
Best Deals on Nike Shoes
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