A recent game-worn pair of Air Jordan 1s recently sold at auction for an astounding $529,770. However what differentiates this pair from other Jordan worn game shoes is not the on-court exploits that took place in the sneakers but rather the interesting backstory.
According to MEARS Auctions, back in the mid 1980’s UNC was recruiting one of the top high school basketball players in the nation. Then TarHeels head coach, the legendary Dean Smith, arranged a meeting between the prospect’s grandmother and Michael Jordan at a Bulls game. Jordan extolled the virtues of attending the University of North Carolina and to top of the pitch, took the shoes of his feet , autographed them and gave them to the grandmother.
Although the youngster ultimately ended up not heading to Chapel Hill, the grandmother kept the shoes for over 30 years. After her death, the sneakers were gifted to some unknown person, and for some reason, not the grandson who was the reason they had the shoes in the first place. It was this mystery person who decided to auction them off.
images below via Mears Auctions
