Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls "The Last Dance" 1997-1998 Game Worn and Dual-Signed Sneakers | 44 Points

These Air Jordan XIIIs were worn by Michael Jordan on January 9, 1998, when the Chicago Bulls played the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Jordan led the Bulls to a 90-89 victory, scoring a game-high 44 points, adding 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block.

This matchup pitted two of the iconic franchises of the 1990s against each other in a tightly contested battle. Jordan’s 44 points accounted for nearly half of the Bulls’ offensive output, and it was his clutch ‘and-1’ and converted free throw with a minute to go in the 4th quarter that put the Bulls ahead for good.  

Photomatched by Sports Investors Authentication, Michael Jordan wore these Air Jordan 13s at Madison Square Garden. The sneakers were consigned by a former member of the Knicks organization, who remembered being given the sneakers on January 9, 1998. The sneakers are accompanied by letter from James Spence in regard to the signatures.

Jordan at Madison Square Garden

Renowned as "The Mecca of Basketball," Madison Square Garden held profound significance for Michael Jordan. Many of Jordan’s greatest performances occurred at The Garden, including his “double-nickel” 55-point performance, just 5 games back from retirement in 1995. 

Throughout his career, Jordan averaged over 30 points per game against New York in the regular season. In the playoffs, Jordan boasted a perfect 5-0 series record against the Knicks, recording seven 40-plus point performances, including a 54-point performance in game four of the 1992-1993 Eastern Conference Finals. 

In the 1997 - 1998 Season, Jordan and the Bulls played two games at Madison Square Garden. In his final game there as a Bull, Jordan opted to wear the iconic Air Jordan 1 Chicago, making this game, the only occasion that Michael wore Air Jordan 13s at Madison Square Garden. 

“The Last Dance”

“The Last Dance” as it’s called, was Michael’s final season with the Chicago Bulls (1997-1998) and is perhaps the most beloved period in Jordan folklore, as Michael reached the apex of his popularity and powers while simultaneously conquering major internal divisions that were fracturing the team dynamics of the late 90s Chicago Bulls. The season is referred to as The Last Dance due in large part to the smash-hit ESPN documentary by the same name, which chronicled the Bulls efforts in the 1997-1998 season. The players were cognizant that the Bulls franchise would ultimately be disbanded at the end of the season and as such, knew it was their final opportunity to capture a 6th Bulls Championship. The Last Dance was Michael Jordan’s ‘magnum opus’ as an athlete – a testament to him as a competitor, a sportsman, a teammate, and ultimately, a champion.

Diving Deeper – The Dynamics of the 1997-1998 Season

There was no love lost between Michael Jordan and Chicago Bulls General Manager Jerry Krause. Jerry – who had an undeniable talent for picking winning teams and players – did not get along with the key people who made the Chicago Bulls so dangerous: Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Phil Jackson. This division ultimately hit a breaking point when Krause mandated that Phil Jackson’s last season with the Bulls would be the 1997-1998 season. As Jordan refused to play for anyone but Jackson, Krause’s move ultimately broke apart the dynasty-winning Bulls, and imbued the 1997-1998 season with a sense of finality and urgency.

Jackson recalled being told the news: “Jerry called me into his office and said, 'This is going to be your last year, I don't care if you win 82 games in a row, this will be your last year here'.”

"So I said, 'Fine' and walked out of the room, and that was the only words that were exchanged."

Mr. Krause said many things surrounding the 1997-1998 season, among the most disturbing to Jordan specifically was that the team needed to be “rebuilt” and that, “Players don't win championships, organizations do.” A quote Krause later refuted.

In Michael Jordan’s Hall of Fame Enshrinement Speech more than 10 years later in 2009, Jordan still seemed irked by Jerry’s words stating, “I don’t know who invited him. I didn’t… he said organizations win championships. I said I didn’t see organizations playing with the Flu in Utah. I didn’t see them playing – you know – with a bad ankle.”

Ultimately, perhaps the tension within the team and the adversity Jordan faced pushed him even further – as it was known to do for Jordan – to his sixth NBA championship with the Chicago Bulls.

The Air Jordan XIII

Michael Jordan’s skill and creative playing abilities put his opponents on their backfoot, earning him the nickname the ‘Black Cat’. He could outmaneuver just about anyone who crossed his path. As Jordan Brand states on their website, “Inspired by a panther’s predatory nature, Tinker [Hatfield] harnessed its tenacity to create the Air Jordan XIII. The shoe featured an unconventional holographic eye and an outsole resembling a panther paw.” The innovations featured on the model were intended to give players the “agility of a cat.”

To this day, the Air Jordan XIII is one of the most nostalgic and popular designs ever released by the Jordan Brand. This particular silhouette was additionally made famous by its feature in the Spike Lee-directed film, He Got Game. The film featured Denzel Washington, who plays a prison inmate sent on a mission to convince his son to play for the Warden’s alma mater in exchange for a shorter sentence. In the movie, Denzel’s character, Jake, goes shopping for a pair of sneakers and immediately asks for the “new Jordans”, and is presented with the Air Jordan XIII. Colloquially, the white and black Air Jordan XIII model often goes by the nickname ‘He Got Game.’