SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (WGN) — A rare pair of Michael Jordan game-worn Air Jordan 1s from the night that ignited a rivalry with the “Bad Boys” Detroit Pistons is set to hit the auction house in the near future.
The Air Jordan 1s that Jordan wore on Oct. 26, 1985 in the Chicago Bulls game against the Pistons will be auctioned off by Gray Flannel Auctions on Nov. 16.
The sneakers were worn during the second game of the 1985-86 season, when tensions between the Bulls and the “Bad Boys” Pistons exploded into chaos at Chicago Stadium. The game featured a defining moment when Bill Laimbeer’s hard clothesline foul on Jordan—a play that would warrant ejection under today’s rules—cleared both benches and resulted in the ejection of both head coaches Stan Albeck and Chuck Daly.
Despite the physicality, Jordan put on a performance that would be synonymous with the player he went on to become. He posted 33 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 blocks, sealing the Bulls’ 121-118 victory with a clutch left-handed free throw in the final seconds.
Key Details of the Sneakers
The Air Jordan 1s feature several unique characteristics that make them museum-quality artifacts.
Rare “Double-Lacing”: Each shoe contains both red and black laces, a configuration Jordan wore only on select occasions.
Photo-Match Confirmed: Period images from the October 26, 1985 game reveal identical unique characteristics, including different shoe lace lengths and a distinctive loose thread on the left shoe’s Nike Air label.
Signed by Jordan: Jordan personally signed the inside heel of each shoe in black ink (graded 8-9).
Impeccable Provenance: The shoes were acquired directly from John Ligmanowski, the Chicago Bulls equipment manager throughout the 1980s and 1990s.
Technical Specifications
The shoes feature the original Air Jordan design by Peter Moore, with red and white leather uppers, black leather heel wrap with Nike Swoosh, and the iconic Air Jordan logo. The right shoe is stamped “13 ½ 850204•TYPS” while the left shows size “13.”
Cultural Significance
Adding to their historical importance, this game was immortalized on the 1986 Michael Jordan Star Co. #9 Rookie Card, cementing its place in basketball collecting lore. The sneakers may have been worn in additional games, potentially including Jordan’s Rookie of the Year season, based on their wear patterns.
The fully illustrated catalog for Grey Flannel’s 65th auction—featuring complete descriptions and authentication details—can be found at www.GreyFlannelAuctions.com.