Ball boy puts Michael Jordan shoes up for auction

Michael Jordan. AP FILE PHOTO

SALT LAKE CITY — A former Utah Jazz ball boy is selling Michael Jordan’s shoes from his famous “flu game” during the 1997 NBA Finals.

Preston Truman kept the shoes in a safe-deposit box at a Utah bank for 15 years.

Truman, now 35, says he first befriended Jordan by running through the halls of the Salt Lake City arena to get Jordan his pregame applesauce.

When the Chicago Bulls came back for the finals months later, Truman had more applesauce waiting for Jordan.

Jordan was so impressed that after the game he offered Truman the shoes, with a signature.

Jordan was unwell during Game 5 of the finals, but played despite flu-like symptoms.

Auction officials say they verified the shoes were authentic. They will be auctioned online Nov. 18.

Bidding begins at $5,000.