Michael Jordan's Nike sneakers sell for record $615,000 in auction - in pictures

Basketball great wore the Nike shoes during an exhibition game in 1985

The Air Jordan 1 High worn by Michael Jordan in 1985 are the most expensive sneakers ever auctioned, Christie's New York auction house reported. AFP

The Air Jordan 1 High worn by Michael Jordan in 1985 are the most expensive sneakers ever auctioned, going for $615,000. AFP

These pair of Nike Air Ship that Michael Jordan wore in 1984, estimated at $350,000 to $550,000, found no buyers during Christie's auction. AFP

A pair of Air Jordan 7 "Olympic" worn by Michael Jordan in the Dream Team gold medal match at Barcelona 1992 sold for $112,500, Christie's New York auction house reported. AFP

Chicago Bulls guard Michael Jordan and forward Scottie Pippen (33) walk back to the bench during a timeout in the closing seconds of an NBA basketball playoff game in 1995. AP

United States' Michael Jordan, centre, poses with his gold medal and a flag draped over his shoulder at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. (AP Photo/Susan Ragan, File)

USA's Magic Johnson, right, and Michael Jordan shake hands near the end of their win over Croatia in the gold medal game in men's basketball match at the Summer Olympics in Barcelona. AP

USA's Michael Jordan takes the ball to the hoop past the outstretched arms of Brazil's Josuel Aristides Santos for two points during first half action of their game at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. AP

Former Chicago Bull Scottie Pippen, left, addresses the crowd as Michael Jordan and teammates from their 1990-91 season celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Bulls' first NBA championship. AP

A pair of Michael Jordan's sneakers sold for $615,000 (Dh 2.2million), breaking the record set just months ago by the sale of another pair of the basketball great's shoes.

The sneakers were a pair of Nike Air Jordan 1 Highs that the NBA great wore during a 1985 exhibition match in Italy when he dunked the ball so hard it shattered the glass backboard.

"This is the original shoe with an actual piece of the backboard, a piece of glass, in the sole of the shoe," Caitlin Donovan, head of handbag and sneaker sales at Christie's auction house which organised the auction with Stadium Goods, was quoted as saying by AFP.

Jordan scored 30 points while wearing the size 13.5 shoes, which are in the red and black colors of his Chicago Bulls team.

Though the sale broke the record set in May when a pair of Air Jordan 1's sold for $560,000, the latest auction finished below the expected range of $650,000 and $850,000.

The record sales highlight the market value of items associated with the NBA superstar since the release of Netflix documentary 'The Last Dance'.

The sneaker resale market has been valued at more than $1bn. Carl Webb, a collector who owns 170 pairs of vintage trainers, told the BBC that it was mainly about nostalgia.

"Some people collect stamps, some people collect books, for me it's rare trainers... Knowing you are one of the only people who will have a certain model feels quite nice," Webb said.