Michael Jordan 1996-97 Chicago Bulls Dual-Signed Air Jordan XII Taxi Sneakers | Possible Attribution to February 28, 1997 | Bennett Salvatore Provenance

From the Collection of Bennett Salvatore

Sotheby’s is proud to present these signed Air Jordan XII sneakers by Michael Jordan with possible attribution to February 28, 1997 when the Chicago Bulls faced off against the Sacramento Kings at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. Jordan led all scorers with 35 points, while also recording 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block. The Bulls defeated the Kings 126-108, improving their record to an impressive 50-7.

Michael Jordan’s name has become synonymous with greatness. The NBA legend’s unprecedented success as an athlete is well-documented and may never be replicated – 6 NBA championships, 6 Finals MVPs, 5 league MVPs, and 2 Olympic Gold Medals are just a few of Jordan’s on-court accomplishments. Many consider Jordan to be the greatest athlete who has ever lived.

This lot is accompanied by a letter of provenance from the original owner, former NBA referee Bennett Salvatore. Both signatures have been authenticated by James Spence Authentication. 

Going Deeper - 1996-97 Season

Expectations were sky high entering the 1996-97 season for the Chicago Bulls. The previous year, Jordan helped lead the Bulls to a regular season record of 72-10, an NBA record at the time, and an NBA Finals win. They didn’t skip a beat the following season as they ended the regular season with a record of 69-13, the second best record in history at the time. Jordan averaged 29.6 points per game, good enough to secure his ninth NBA scoring title.

The Bulls made quick work of the Washington Bullets in the opening round of the playoffs, sweeping the series 3-0. They continued their dominant run through the Eastern Conference, eliminating the Atlanta Hawks and Miami Heat with identical 4-1 series wins in the semifinals and finals. 

The stage was set for the NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz, led by Karl Malone and John Stockton. The series did not disappoint as it was packed with memorable moments. In the closing seconds of Game 1, Michael Jordan hit a game-winning step-back jumper over the outstretched arm of Bryon Russell. With the series tied 2-2 Jordan delivered a historic performance, dubbed as the “Flu Game” due to him being noticeably sick. He led the Bulls to a 90-88 victory, tallying 38 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block. The Bulls would close out the series in the following game, capturing their fifth NBA Finals championship in franchise history, with Jordan earning Finals MVP honors for the fifth time as well.