On February 2, 2024, at the Sotheby's auction in New York, Michael Jordan's "The Dynasty Collection" was featured. This collection, comprising six pairs of Air Jordans worn by Jordan during the Chicago Bulls' championship finals in the 1990s, was auctioned for about 8 million dollars (approximately 10.7 billion KRW), setting a new record for the most expensive sneaker auction in history.

▶ The Dynasty Collection: The Complete Set of Michael Jordan’s ‘Air Jordan’ Six Championship Sneakers - Sotheby's

Chapter 1

The Apex of Sports Memorabilia 

As the estimated value of "The Dynasty Collection" suggests, sports memorabilia are highly coveted items among many sports fans, cherished for the historic moments they represent. Until two years ago, the record for the highest auction price for a piece of sports memorabilia was held by a jersey worn by Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona. This was the jersey worn during the infamous "The Hand of God" incident in the quarterfinals of the 1986 Mexico World Cup, fetching around 9.3 million dollars at auction. 

On September 17, 2022, this record was broken. The Bulls jersey worn by Jordan during the first game of the 1998 NBA Finals was auctioned for 12.6 million dollars, setting a new record. "The Dynasty Collection" ranked fourth in the most expensive sports memorabilia auctioned, following closely behind the original 1892 Olympic Manifesto.

* 1892 Olympic Manifesto original was auctioned in 2019 at Sotheby's for about 8.8 million dollars

Chapter 2

Court Legends Arrive in Korea 

 

The Eland Museum also boasts a collection of Jordan sneakers, including the "Champion Season Sneakers Collection," which encompasses the six championships Jordan won from 1990 to 1995. From the sneakers of the 1990-91 season, marking the Bulls' first division title in 16 years, to the Air Jordan 13s worn during "The Last Dance," Jordan's final season with the Bulls, this collection celebrates Jordan's shared victories.

 

The Eland Museum's collection doesn't stop at Jordan. It includes memorabilia from other NBA legends like Kobe Bryant's jersey from the LA Lakers' 2010 championship season and LeBron James' LeBron 13s worn before the 2017 NBA Finals, showcasing a variety of NBA collections.

Chapter 3

Exhibition with Hands-on Experience 

In February, an opportunity to see the Eland Museum's collection, including Jordan's sneaker collection, arose at the Hyundai Department Store in Pangyo with the "BASKETBALL: The Greatest Players 75 Vol. 1." Running from February 8 to March 17, the exhibition will display over 170 items from NBA players like Jordan, Kobe, LeBron, Stephen Curry, Shaquille O'Neal, and Dennis Rodman.

 

The exhibition is divided into six sections, each highlighting moments and key figures in NBA history. "The Sneakers" section features game-worn basketball shoes, while "The Jersey" section showcases players' jerseys. "The Champions" and "The Awards" sections allow even non-NBA fans to recognize the stars and their achievements through displayed memorabilia and trophies. The highlight is "The GOAT" section, featuring Jordan's championship sneakers collection.

 

"BASKETBALL: The Greatest Players 75 Vol. 1" is an interactive exhibit where visitors can compare the hand and foot sizes of NBA players and design their own basketball shoes in 3D using AI technology. This immersive experience allows for a 360-degree view of the custom-designed sneakers.

 

Aside from the memorabilia and interactive zones, the exhibition offers much more. It will feature appearances by KBL players, commentators, and famous influencers, as well as events in collaboration with Korea's largest basketball online community, "Mania," and a draw event for New Balance's NBA basketball shoes, the BB650, produced in limited edition.