The 1984 U.S. Men’s Basketball team was USA’s last amateur squad to win an Olympic gold medal, and in many circles is considered the best amateur basketball team ever. Led by future Hall of Famers Michael Jordan, Patrick Ewing and Chris Mullin, and coached by the unpredictable Bobby Knight, this talented squad of 12 young men put on quite a show at the L.A. Summer Games en route to a perfect 8-0 record with an average margin of victory of more than 30 points per game. It was a level of domination not seen until eight years later in Barcelona when the 1992 “Dream Team” — with Jordan, Ewing and Mullin in the prime of their NBA careers — officially “professionalized” basketball at the Olympics.
SCP Auctions is proud to feature one of the most coveted artifacts from Jordan’s legendary playing career in its current Spring Premier auction: the actual shoes he wore in the ’84 Olympic Finals against Spain on August 10, 1984, at The Fabulous Forum in Inglewood, Calif. These historic sneakers are the last pair Jordan ever wore in competition as an amateur and represent perhaps his crowning athletic achievement before turning pro. A then-21-year-old Jordan led Team USA in scoring at 17.1 points per game during the ’84 Games. In the United States’ 96-65 victory over Spain to claim gold, Jordan scored a game-high 20 points while sporting these classic Converse sneakers. It would be the last time Jordan was ever seen wearing a non-Nike pair.
The white-and-navy blue trimmed shoes (size 13) are a canvas and leather mid-top design. The navy blue Converse star logo appears on both sides and again on the upper heels. The original white laces are present and they even include MJ’s very own navy blue orthotic inserts. The shoes are well-preserved with all structural and aesthetic components perfectly intact. Game use is evident throughout, with proper heel drag, leather creasing and light scuffing. Jordan has signed both sneakers — the right shoe on the inner ankle, the left shoe on the outer ankle — with a black marker in his early, pre-NBA autograph form.
The sought-after shoes currently have a high bid of $37,978. Initial bidding closes on Saturday, June 10, at 5 p.m. PDT. -Terry Melia
