Hall of Fame former Chicago Bulls shooting guard Michael Jordan may have hung up his Air Jordans for good in 2003, but that doesn’t mean his likeness isn’t still raking in major money.
Jordan’s special Nike brand earns billions annually, and he recently sold his majority ownership stake in the NBA franchise the Charlotte Hornets to businessmen Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin for a reported $3 billion. He paid just $275 million to buy in as the team’s majority owner in 2010 and even now retains a minority stake in the squad.
The 6-foot-6 North Carolina product spent 13 of his 15 pro seasons with the Chicago Bulls, winning six championships and five MVP awards. He retired three times: once in 1993, which lasted for a year and a half; again in 1998; and finally in 2003. His final pro stint was a two-year run with the Washington Wizards, from 2001-03.
For his career, Jordan boasts averages of 30.1 points (a league record) on .497/.327/.835 shooting splits, plus 6.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.3 steals, and 0.8 blocks a night.
So it’s understandable, needless to say, that a 1984-85 season Star Company rookie card featuring Jordan that is listed as being in “near-mint condition” could fetch a pretty penny when it goes up for bidding from Heritage Auctions, as part of a 12-card set featuring that entire Bulls team, on January 24. It has been assessed an 8.5 PSA grade.
A Heritage Auctions spokesperson suggested the card could earn as much as $400,000, reports TMZ Sports.
The other cards, comprising Jordan’s teammates that year, range in quality from “excellent-mint” to “near-mint” condition. Those former Bulls include centers Dave Corzine and Jawann Oldham; guards Quintin Dailey, Wes Matthews Sr., and Ennis Whatley; and forward Rod Higgins, Sidney Green, David Greenwood, Orlando Woolridge, and Steve Johnson. None of the other 11 players remained on the franchise’s roster by the time it won its first title with Jordan, the 1990-91 season.
Why is the Star Company card collection projected to be so pricey? Because, per TMZ Sports, it was released even prior to Jordan’s coveted 1986 Fleer rookie card, and is fairly rare these days.
“The 1984 Star Co. Michael Jordan card #101 is the G.O.A.T. NBA player’s true rookie card and one of the earliest and most significant cards of the basketball legend, predating his more famous 1986 Fleer rookie card,” Heritage Auctions writes in its official listing of the card.
“As part of the Star Company’s 1984 set, this card features Michael Jordan during his rookie season with the Chicago Bulls, capturing the beginning of his storied NBA career.”
That year, under then-head coach Kevin Loughery, Chicago finished with a 38-44 record and made the playoffs, falling 1-3 to the Milwaukee Bucks, as led by eventual Hall of Fame point guard Sidney Moncrief.
As a rookie, the 21-year-old Jordan made an immediate impact. In addition to winning Rookie of the Year honors over fellow future Hall of Famers Hakeem Olajuwon, Charles Barkley, and John Stockton, Jordan also was named an All-Star and an All-NBA Second Teamer instantly. While playing all 82 games for the Bulls, he averaged 28.2 points on 51.5 percent shooting from the field and 84.5 percent shooting from the foul line, along with 6.5 boards, 5.9 dishes, 2.4 steals, and 0.8 blocks a night.
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