Larry Bird-signed Dream Team jersey leads Scottie Pippen collection auction sales

A 1992 Olympics Team USA jersey worn and signed by Larry Bird sold for $896,000 to lead all sales from the Scottie Pippen collection auction held by Sotheby’s. A total of 71 items from Pippen’s personal collection of memorabilia from his Hall of Fame career were sold in the auction, 11 of which went for $100,000 or more.

“Each jersey, sneaker, and collectible I’ve kept over the years holds a memory, a feeling, a story of perseverance and teamwork,” Pippen said via Sotheby’s press release leading up to the auction. “Now, it feels like the right time to share these pieces and let others carry their stories forward. I’m excited to give fans and collectors the chance to own these special items, to connect with the history and memories they represent, and to experience a part of the journey I was lucky enough to live. I hope they bring the same kind of pride, joy, and love of the game that they’ve given me throughout my career.”

The Bird jersey was photo-matched to the Dream Team’s final group-stage game against Spain at the Barcelona Olympics, as they went on to win gold in historic fashion.

The collection was exhibited by Sotheby’s in New York before the items were sold. Photo courtesy of Sotheby’s

The most curious result of the auction was the pair of autographed Air Jordan VII sneakers worn by Michael Jordan in the Gold Medal Game and gifted to Pippen in the locker room after the game. They sold for $640,000 — well below Sotheby’s pre-auction estimate of $1.5 million to $2.5 million, which would have put them in contention for the title of most expensive sneakers of all time (a mark currently held by by the Air Jordan XIIIs worn by Jordan in the 1998 NBA Finals, which sold for $2.2 million in 2023 also through Sotheby’s). 

Other notable sales from the Pippen collection: 

• Pippen’s personal set of six NBA championship trophies (Tiffany & Co stamped): $640,000
• Pippen’s 1997 NBA Finals “Flu Game” game-worn, autographed Bulls jersey: $486,400
• Pippen’s 1998 NBA Finals “Last Dance” championship clinching game-worn Bulls jersey: $448,000
• Pippen’s 1992 Olympics Gold Medal Game-worn jersey: $384,000
• Pippen’s 1996 NBA Finals championship clinching game-worn Bulls jersey: $281,600
• Pippen’s 1996 NBA Finals Games 3-5 game-worn Bulls jersey: $256,000

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