Michael Jordan’s Pre-Air Jordan Game-Worn Converse Sneakers Hit Auction

A pair of Converse basketball shoes used by Michael Jordan in 1983 has surfaced at auction, marking the earliest documented pair of game-worn shoes once belonging to the GOAT.

The shoes, identified by various entities as All-Stars and resembling a Pro Leather with a modified ankle height (evident by eight eyelets instead of nine or 10), were worn twice by Jordan at the 1983 Pan American Games. This sport series is where the future great made his international basketball debut for the USA, netting an average of 17.3 points per game en route to a gold medal. This pair in question ended up in the hands of the 1983 Team USA graduate assistant men's basketball coach, who has provided a letter of provenance to confirm their legitimacy. Photo-matching from two separate entities, RGU and Resolution Photo Matching, also adds to the veracity of the story.

At the time of writing, the lot has raised just over $16,000 in bids from a $10,000 opening price. This is a relative bargain compared to the literal millions that MJ-worn Jordans have fetched, but a lot could change in five-ish days when the auction ends. Throw in a bid or two at Grey Flannel Auctions.