This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 12/8/2016.
The 1996-97 season was one of Michael Jordan’s finest, winning the ultimate team prize in addition to other major hardware. Jordan led the NBA in scoring, averaging 29.6 points per game and won his fifth NBA championship. Jordan earned NBA Finals MVP honors after being snubbed from regular season MVP honors, averaging 32.3 points, seven rebounds and six assists per game during a 4-2 series win over the Utah Jazz. During the regular season, Jordan has his typical performance during a 10-point win over the New Jersey Nets, scoring 21 points with six rebounds and 10 assists. These game-used sneakers and basketball were used during that game and are sourced from NBA player Kendall Gill, who played for the Nets during that time. White and black Nike manufactured Jordan XII sneakers. On the heel of each sneaker reads, “JORDAN” with the number “23” below in red and above is a Jumpman logo. On the heel of each sneaker is a black Jumpman logo embroidered and down the tongue reads, “TWO3” in black stitching. Jordan signed the right side of each sneaker in black pen with the added inscription, “Best Wishes” and in our opinion, rates a 7 overall. “SPALDING” manufactured “Official Game Ball” with the “NEW JERSEY NETS” stamped into a panel. In an adjacent panel, Jordan signed the ball in silver pen and in our opinion, rates a 9 overall. These items are accompanied by a full JSA LOA and two LOAs (one for each item) from Kristophe Schmalz, a former equipment manager of the Nets. On the LOAs, Schmalz writes these items were given to Kendall Gill, who then gifted them to him the same night.