Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls 1995-1996 Game Worn and Signed Sneakers | Championship Season | MVP Season

Letter from the Chicago Bulls on team letterhead, dated January 9, 2004.

SCP Auctions,

Heritage Auctions,

Private Collection

These sneakers were worn by Michael Jordan during the 1995-96 NBA season, when the Chicago Bulls compiled a then-record 72-10 regular season record and went on to win the NBA Championship, defeating the Seattle SuperSonics four games to two. The sneakers are a pair of Nike Air Jordan XI in the iconic black and white "Concord" colorway, featuring a white ballistic mesh upper, black patent leather overlays, a white midsole, and a translucent gum rubber outsole. Both sneakers are signed by Jordan in silver marker across the patent leather overlay.

SIA Photo Match has photomatched each sneaker to different games during the season:

Left Sneaker: November 21, 1995 when the Chicago Bulls faced the Dallas Mavericks at Reunion Arena in Dallas, Texas. Jordan finished with 36 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 rebounds, and 2 blocks. The Bulls defeated the Mavericks, 108-102 in overtime.

Right Sneaker: November 22, 1995, when the Bulls faced the San Antonio Spurs at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. Jordan finished with 38 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, and 4 steals. The Bulls defeated the Spurs, 103-94.

Both sneakers have been signed by Jordan. The lot is accompanied with letters from SIA Photo Match in regards to authenticity. The signatures have been authenticated by UDA and PSA/DNA. The pair is accompanied by a team letter from the Chicago Bulls.

Going Deeper | Air Jordan

Michael Jordan's name is 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 ever lived.

Off the court, Jordan's partnership with Nike to create the massively popular 'Jordan Brand' was arguably just as impactful as his basketball achievements. The partnership helped solidify Nike as the world's biggest sneaker company and ushered in an era of lucrative collaborations between athletes and sneaker companies. His relationship with Nike ultimately helped Jordan become the first NBA player to attain a net worth of $1 billion.

In late 1984, Nike produced the first Air Jordan model — the Air Jordan I — for Jordan to use during his rookie season with the Chicago Bulls. Nike released this model to the general public in 1985. This pattern — produce a new model for Jordan's use followed by a public release — became the standard in the years that followed. Subsequent models and design innovations therefore developed inextricable ties to various eras and iconic performances throughout Jordan's legendary career.