Christie’s Reveals Landmark Michael Jordan Game-Worn Exclusive Sneaker Rarities

A week after previewing "Original Air," the era-defining Michael Jordan footwear auction, Christie's and Stadium Goods are pleased to announce the full selection of 11 historic lots chronicling Jordan's career will now be available to browse the collection.

The sale is open for bidding from July 30-August 13.

With the reveal of the catalogue, Christie's announces the top lot of this landmark sale, the momentous Air Jordan 1 High "'Shattered Backboard' Origin Story," Game-Worn Signed Sneaker, Nike, 1985 ($650,000- 850,000). This one-of-a-kind pair dates to August 25, 1985, when Michael Jordan travelled to Trieste, Italy to participate in a Nike-sponsored exhibition game.

Wearing this Air Jordan 1 High "Chicago," Jordan scored 30 points. The most memorable play of the game was Jordan's remarkable dunk, so powerful, it shattered the glass backboard into thousands of pieces – one of those pieces still remaining in the sole of the left shoe.


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Rookie signatures are also found on each shoe. The black and orange limited edition "Shattered Backboard" colorway released by Nike in 2015 to commemorate this moment is now one of Jordan Brand's most popular color schemes.

With a total of 11 lots among the rarest of the rare, "Original Air" unites the greatest collection of historic Michael Jordan footwear ever offered at one time. The sale spans Jordan's celebrated career with the Chicago Bulls from 1984 to 1998 and additionally features key highlights from other pivotal moments including Jordan's tour-de-force performance on the global stage with the '92 Olympic Dream Team and his brief 'retirement' shift to baseball for the Chicago White Sox. 

Beginning with a pre-Jordan Brand Nike Air Ship worn during his rookie season in 1984 ($350,000 – 550,000), to the very pair of the Air Jordan 7 "Olympic" worn in the Dream Team's gold medal game in 1992 ($50,000 – 70,000), an extremely rare sample of Air Jordan 10 Baseball Cleats made by Nike for Jordan's retirement from basketball and entry into baseball ($7,500-9,000), to a pair of classic Jordan 14s worn during practice for his final Bulls appearance ($6,000 – 8,000), "Original Air" provides a one-of-a-kind look at Jordan's career and his footwear's impact on sports, culture and style.

Nike's Jordan Brand has been at the forefront of a pop-culture movement that has spanned the globe. Put simply, Michael Jordan and his signature line of footwear set the foundation for modern basketball and the worldwide phenomenon of sneaker collecting.


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Additionally, a portion of proceeds from one of the sale's lots, a game-worn pair of Air Jordan 11 "Concord" from the legendary 1995-6 season ($50,000- 65,000), are designated to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund (LDF). Through litigation, advocacy, and public education, LDF seeks structural changes to expand democracy, eliminate disparities, and achieve racial justice in a society that fulfils the promise of equality for all Americans.

Visit Christies.com/OriginalAir or the sale page, live from 23 July.

The Athlete: Photographs By Walter Iooss, Jr. Online Sale | Bidding: 23 July – 11 August 2020

With a half a century of experience behind the camera, Walter Iooss has photographed thousands of athletes, including the most iconic stars in the biggest arenas under the brightest lights. His unrivaled ability to 'get the shot'—a skill that has made him a legend among those he has photographed—has allowed him unparalleled access to the inner sanctum of club houses, team planes, and the homes of many athletes. He has gained the trust and admiration of many. "From what I can tell, Walter has never taken a bad shot of anybody or anything. Years later, working together on Rare Air, we had become so comfortable around one another that I barely had to look up. You don't have to perform for Walter."—Michael Jordan. 

In this online auction of 39 rare, vintage photographic prints of basketball, football and baseball heroes of the 60s-90s, the genius and eye of Walter Iooss are in full-effect, making us fall in love all over again with these memorable heroes of the court, field and diamond.


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For The Love Of The Game Private Selling Exhibition | 23 July 2020 – 14 August 2020

For the Love of the Game is an online private selling exhibition exploring the theme of sports in 20th century and contemporary art. Artists have drawn inspiration from athletes and physical competition since antiquity, and 20th-century artists have contributed an important critical viewpoint to this artistic dialogue. The old motifs of physical prowess and beauty have been superseded by unique and contemporary themes: the artist as celebrity, commodity, hero and myth.

From George Bellows to Jonas Wood, For The Love Of The Game surveys the treatment of athletes and sports by a variety of artists, revealing the many different viewpoints and frames of reference that inform this important theme. For the Love of the Game will be open for browsing on Christies.com from 23 July to 14 August 2020. Highlights will also be shown alongside the Gamechangers Exhibition. 


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Public Exhibition (by appointment): Christie's, 20 Rockefeller Center, New York

Thursday, 23 July: 10am to 5pm; Friday, 24 July: 10am to 2pm; Saturday, 25 July to Tuesday, 28 July*

29 July to 13 August; 10am to 5pm (Sundays, 1pm to 5pm) *only a portion of material will be on view from July 25-28.                GAMECHANGERS SERIES:

Original Air: Michael Jordan Game-Worn and Player Exclusive Sneaker Rarities Online Sale Browsing opens: 23 July 2020; Bidding: 30 July to 13 August 2020

 For Love of the Game; Private Selling Exhibition; 23 July to 14 August 2020

 The Athlete: Photographs by Walter Iooss, Jr.

Online Sale: Bidding: 23 July – 11 August 2020

About Stadium Goods

Established in 2015 by John McPheters and Jed Stiller, Stadium Goods is the world's premier marketplace for sneakers and streetwear. Founded and staffed by connoisseurs with decades of experience in the sneaker and streetwear industries, Stadium Goods is renowned both for its premium retail and e-commerce model as well as its deep roots in the culture and community surrounding sneakers and streetwear. Stadium Goods received backing in 2017 from esteemed early-stage investors Forerunner Ventures, and in 2018 from LVMH Luxury Ventures. In January 2019, Farfetch acquired Stadium Goods, bringing about the next stage in the company's evolution. In July, 2019, Stadium Goods partnered on the auction of a Nike "Moon Shoe," the record at the time for the most expensive shoe ever sold. In addition to its online website and app, Stadium Goods has a brick-and-mortar store at 47 Howard Street in the heart of New York City's Soho district, as well as a second retail location in Chicago at 60 Walton Street on the Magnificent Mile, opening fall 2020.

About Christie's  

Christie's, the world's leading art business, had auction sales in 2019 that totalled £4.5 billion / $5.8 billion. Christie's is a name and place that speaks of extraordinary art, unparalleled service and international expertise. Christie's offers around 350 auctions annually in over 80 categories, including all areas of fine and decorative arts, jewellery, photographs, collectibles, wine, and more. Prices range from $200 to over $100 million. Christie's also has a long and successful history conducting private sales for its clients in all categories, with emphasis on Post-War & Contemporary, Impressionist & Modern, Old Masters and Jewellery. Alongside regular sales online, Christie's has a global presence in 46 countries, with 10 salerooms around the world including in London, New York, Paris, Geneva, Milan, Amsterdam, Dubai, Zürich, Hong Kong, and Shanghai.

*Please note when quoting estimates above that other fees will apply in addition to the hammer price - see Section D of the Conditions of Sale at the back of the sale catalogue.

*Estimates do not include buyer's premium. Sales totals are hammer price plus buyer's premium and are reported net of applicable fees.

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