Some rare NBA memorabilia is hitting the market, as the debut jerseys of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant will be auctioned off by Sotheby’s in the coming months. CNN reported the story on Thursday morning.

Jordan’s autographed 1984 preseason debut Bulls jersey will be available beginning March 12, and Bryant’s 1996 preseason and regular season debut Lakers jersey will hit the market on April 10. Both jerseys have been authenticated using “photo-matching,” the process of comparing the unique markings of an item to high-resolution photographs or video footage. 

JUST IN: @sothebys to auction off MJ’s game-worn NBA preseason debut and Kobe’s NBA regular season debut jerseys.

Each could beat all-time jersey record of $10.1M.https://t.co/nHKO6aXTGo

— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) March 6, 2025

Jordan and Bryant are two of the most iconic players in NBA history, winning a combined 11 championships and five NBA MVP awards between them. Their presence in the game continued to grow after their on-court careers concluded, with Jordan becoming the owner of the Charlotte Bobcats (which later became the Hornets) and Bryant winning an Academy-Award for the short film “Dear Basketball” before his tragic death in a helicopter crash on Jan. 26, 2020.

Here’s what you need to know about the Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant jersey auctions.

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Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant debut jerseys up for auction

Jordan and Bryant game-worn jerseys from their NBA debuts are being auctioned off by Sotheby’s, an auction house based in New York City.

Jordan’s jersey was matched and authenticated to his preseason debut on Oct. 5, 1984, in Peoria, Illinois, his first game with the Bulls. When examining the jersey, there are dark stains beneath the name and No. 23. Sotheby’s described these markings as the likely remnants of the names and numbers of previous players who had worn the jersey. 

Bryant’s jersey dates back to the start of his 20-year career with the Lakers. The No. 8 jersey has been matched and authenticated by examining moments like his first NBA Media Day, preseason debut on Oct. 16, 1996 and regular-season debut on Nov. 3.

Rookie sports memorabilia is at an all-time high in terms of price and popularity, according to Sotheby’s. The most expensive item of rookie sports memorabilia ever sold was a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle baseball card for $12.6 million in August 2022.

MORE: Michael Jordan vs. Kobe Bryant timeline: Looking back on their rivalry

How to buy Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant rookie jerseys

Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant’s debut jerseys will be exhibited to the public by Sotheby’s on March 21. Buyers will soon be able to bid online on the Jordan jersey and the Bryant jersey. Sotheby’s expects each jersey to sell for around $10 million dollars.

What numbers did Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant wear?

Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant wore two different sets of numbers during their NBA careers.

Jordan debuted in 1984 with No. 23 and wore it when leading the Bulls to three consecutive championships from 1991-1993. Jordan retired after the 1993 season to play minor league baseball, but he returned to the NBA in March 1995, wearing No. 45. He switched back to No. 23 in the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Magic that season.

Bryant debuted in 1996 with the No. 8, which he wore for the Lakers three-peat from 2000-2002. He switched to No. 24 during the 2006-07 season and stuck with the number for the rest of his hall-of-fame career.