Flu Game shoes

The Flu Game shoes are black and red size 13 Nike Air Jordan XII worn by Michael Jordan in game five of the 1997 NBA Finals, commonly called The Flu Game. The game was between Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls and the Utah Jazz. It was reported that Jordan had the flu before and during the game. Later it was revealed that he was suffering from food poisoning.

Michael Jordan in 1997, and a pair of Nike Air Jordan XII. The actual shoes are black and red.

Michael Jordan gave the shoes to a ball boy from the Utah Jazz after the game. The shoes were stored in a bank vault for 15 years and then sold at auction for more than US$104,000 in 2013. They were sold at auction a second time in June 2023 for US$1.38 million.

Background

Before Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals Michael Jordan became ill. He participated in the game despite his illness and the game became known as "The Flu Game". Jordan played 44 minutes in the game and finished with 38 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists.[1] With 25 seconds left in the game Jordan made a 3 point game winning basket. The Bulls went on to win the NBA Finals in game 6.[2] The shoes that Jordan wore in game 5 became known as the "Flu Game shoes", even though it was later revealed that Jordan was actually suffering from food poisoning during the game.[1]

The shoes are size 13 Nike Air Jordan XII in black and red.[3][4]

History of ownership

After the game Michael Jordan gave the signed shoes to Utah Jazz' ball boy Preston Truman.[1] The ball boy asked Jordan, "Are you doing anything with your shoes after the game?" Jordan asked "Why, you want them?" Truman told Jordan he would be honored.[4]

For fifteen years Truman held onto the shoes, keeping them in a Utah bank safe deposit box. He claims to have turned down an offer for US$11,000.[4] In 2013, Truman offered the shoes for sale through Grey Flannel Auctions and the bidding began at US$5,000 before realizing a sale price of US$104,765.[1] The sale price of the shoes was a record price for game worn shoes at the time.[5] On June 14, 2023, the shoes were auctioned for a second time, this time on the auction site Goldin.[1] The bidding was started at US$500,000; after two weeks on the auction site, the price exceeded US$1,000,000.[2] The shoes eventually realized a sale price of US$1.38 million.[1] Another pair of Michael Jordan's game worn shoes called the "Last Dance shoes", sold for US$2.238M.[6] The shoes were also previously owned by Preston Truman.[7]

References
  1. Hajducky, Dan (June 15, 2023). "Michael Jordan's 'Flu Game' sneakers auctioned for $1.38 million". ESPN. Archived from the original on June 17, 2023. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  2. Neumann, Sean (June 15, 2023). "Michael Jordan's 'Flu Game' Sneakers He Once Traded to Ball Boy Sell for $1.38 Million". People Magazine. Archived from the original on June 18, 2023. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  3. Brooke, Tyler (November 13, 2013). "Michael Jordan's Flu Game Shoes Sell for More Than $100,000". Bleacher Report. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  4. Foy, Paul (December 13, 2013). "Jordan's 'flu game' sneakers go for 104k at Auction". Anderson Independent-Mail. Archived from the original on June 18, 2023. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  5. Taranto, Steven (June 15, 2023). "Michael Jordan's 'Flu Game' sneakers from 1997 Finals sell for $1.3M at auction". CBS. Archived from the original on June 16, 2023. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  6. Henderson, Cydney (April 11, 2023). "Michael Jordan's 'Last dance' NBA Finals sneakers set record at auction". USA Today. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  7. Dorisca, Samantha (June 8, 2023). "After Selling For $2.2M, Original Owner Of Michael Jordan's '98 NBA Finals Air Jordan 13s Files Lawsuit To Reclaim Them". Yahoo Life. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
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