RUNNEMEDE, NJ – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Karl “The Mailman” Malone’s Dream Team memorabilia collection has delivered — with a big assist to Michael Jordan.
The game-worn shoes and jerseys Karl Malone obtained from teammates on the 1992 Summer Olympics squad brought in more than $5 million at auction, according to the website of Goldin Auctions. The auction ended this week.
Jordan’s white autographed No. 9 jersey sold for $3.03 million, with his shoes bringing in $420,000.
Each one of the jerseys was worn during the United States’ 127-76 win over Lithuania on Aug. 6, 1992. Two days later, the Americans drubbed Croatia 117-85 for the gold medal.
The shoes were worn either at the Olympics in Barcelona or at the pre-Olympic Tournament of the Americas.
The first Dream Team was made up of 11 NBA superstars and Christian Laettner, who then was fresh off back-to-back NCAA championships while playing at Duke University.
Selling prices for other the jerseys of other Dream Team members: Larry Bird ($360,000), Earvin Magic Johnson ($336,000), Charles Barkley ($230,400), David Robinson ($116,400), Clyde Drexler ($91,200), Scottie Pippen ($80,400), Karl Malone ($58,800), John Stockton ($55,200), Patrick Ewing ($39,600), Laettner ($39,600) and Chris Mullin ($37,200).
In another special auction, Michael Jordan’s “One of a Kind” USA medal ceremony jacket – a cause for controversy at the Barcelona Olympics because of its Reebok sponsorship over that of Jordan’s Nike brand athletic shoes – is on display at Sotheby’s NYC and is taking bids. The final auction, the last week of June, 2023, will determine the auction price which is estimated to be somewhere near $3m and could go higher as it is one of one, as opposed to Jordan’s many game-worn uniforms.
The collection formerly was displayed at Malone’s Toyota car dealership in Utah. It was featured in the Netflix series “King of Collectibles: The Goldin Touch.”
–Field Level Media