Sotheby’s is Auctioning the Air Jordan 7 Hare Worn by Michael Jordan during his Eyes Closed Free Throw
PublishedQuick Facts
- Sotheby's is selling the game-worn and signed Air Jordan 7s worn by Michael Jordan when he hit a free throw with his eyes closed
- The game took place on March 31, 1992, when the Bulls played the Knicks at MSG
- The Air Jordan 7 Hare has since gone on to become one of the model's most beloved colorways
- Sotheby's estimates the pair to sell between $400,000 and $600,000
There are so many highlight moments during Michael Jordan’s career that it can be tough to recall them all. Some that come to mind are his two separate three-peats, winning the slam dunk contest in 1988, and the infamous “flu game” (though we can debate what actually caused his flu-like symptoms). Tied to each of these moments and so many more are the sneakers he wore on his feet, with fans getting a nostalgic feeling every time Jordan Brand retroes a pair of sneakers MJ himself laced up during his playing days. What’s even rarer are actual game-worn kicks, with auction houses like Sotheby’s often being the destination to find these 1-of-1s. Well, Sotheby’s has acquired yet another game-worn Michael Jordan sneaker, more specifically the Air Jordan 7s he laced up when he hit a free throw against the New York Knicks with his eyes closed.
On March 31, 1992, the Chicago Bulls made a visit to Madison Square Garden to face off against the New York Knicks in a regular-season NBA game. Michael went off that night, dropping 36 points in the Air Jordan 7 Hare. With 14 seconds left in the game, MJ was fouled and headed to the free throw line. Patrick Ewing of the Knicks began to trash-talk Jordan as he approached the line, and after sinking his first shot, MJ told Ewing he’d take the shot with his eyes closed, and he did just that. Knicks broadcaster Marv Albert exclaimed during the game, “Michael enjoying the moment..looks like he threatened to close the eyes… yup, he did it. He did it with the eyes closed.”
Image via Sotheby's
That moment has gone down in the history books, as has the Air Jordan 7. The model was worn by MJ during his second championship season, with the original Hare colorway that he sported on that night against the Knicks becoming a fan favorite. Inspiration for the color scheme came from none other than Bugs Bunny, who would star alongside Jordan in commercials for the Air Jordan 7. Since its original release in 1992, the Air Jordan 7 Hare has been retroed twice, once in 2008 as part of the Countdown Pack alongside an Air Jordan 16 and again in 2015.
The auction for this game-worn and signed Air Jordan 7 Hare worn by Michael Jordan during his eyes closed free throw will begin on September 19 and run through the 29th. Sotheby’s estimates the pair will fetch between $400,000 and $600,000. Check below for images of the pair, and download the Sole Retriever mobile app to stay updated on the latest releases, raffles, news, and more in the sneaker and streetwear world.
Images via Sotheby's
Sneakerhead from South Florida who turned his passion into a career. When not writing for Sole Retriever, I enjoy attending concerts and catching the latest movies. Email: nick@soleretriever.com
