Jordan’s game-worn shoes fetch $33,000

Michael Jordan AP

LOS ANGELES–A pair of sneakers worn by Michael Jordan when he played basketball at the University of North Carolina sold for $33,387 on Thursday, US media reported.

Grey Flannel Auctions, which sold the shoes, told ESPN they were consigned by a high school team-mate of Jordan and that the winning bidder preferred to remain anonymous.

Jordan, who later became closely associated with Nike through the creation of the “Air Jordan” brand, wore Converse while at UNC because the company had a contract with coach Dean Smith.

Grey Flannel Auctions said Jordan wore the shoes during his freshman year in 1981-82. That year North Carolina won the NCAA title, beating Georgetown in the championship game in which Jordan drained the game-winning basket.

Last December, shoes worn by Jordan in the fabled “flu game” of the 1997 NBA finals fetched $104,765 at auction.

The game, the fifth of the 1997 championship series between Chicago and Utah, has become part of Jordan’s legend.

He scored 38 points, despite nearly missing the game with a debilitating illness diagnosed as flu that had struck in the early hours of the morning.