A ‘Museum-Quality’ Michael Jordan Artifact Is Up for Auction
Michael Jordan became one of the world's most popular athletes during his run with the Chicago Bulls. Jordan helped the NBA become a global league, inspiring fans around the world with his spectacular play.
He won six championships in Chicago, with the final victory taking place in 1998. Jordan retired for the second time after winning his sixth title with the Bulls, and the team's triumph signaled the end of an era in the NBA.
Jordan and many of his teammates would depart from the Bulls in the offseason, but one item from their final championship run will give one lucky collector the chance to immortalize that season forever.
A game-used basketball, signed by the 1998 Chicago Bulls, is part of the April 2026 collection at Classic Auctions. The Montreal-based auctioneers have included the ball as part of a collection of items sourced from Jordan's longtime bodyguard Gus Lett.
A Special Artifact for a Special Relationship
Lett was part of Jordan's inner circle, and the basketball star said Lett became a "father figure" to him after Jordan's father was murdered in 1993.
“People around, they think they’re entitled to certain things. Gus would put them straight,” Jordan said in "The Last Dance" documentary. “That was Gus. He was a protector. But he was more than that.”
MJ's body guard Gus Lett was a special man.#TheLastDance pic.twitter.com/Ap6xJXJeOJ
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) May 16, 2020
"The Last Dance" chronicled Jordan's final season in Chicago, and a major part of the penultimate episode focuses on his relationship with Lett. Lett underwent chemotherapy to treat lung cancer in 1998, but made it out to see the Bulls win Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Jordan and the rest of the Bulls made sure that Lett got the game ball that night, a gesture that highlighted an emotional moment during a transformative year for the team.
"When my father got killed, he became like a father figure to me."
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) May 18, 2020
The bond between MJ and Gus Lett was special ❤️ #TheLastDance pic.twitter.com/E05i5xXjMs
“Gus is a very positive inspiration to me. He means a lot to me. When you look at Gus, the game really doesn’t mean as much," Jordan said after the game.
"He is struggling through something that means a little bit more than playing a basketball game. He is certainly a positive influence for me. I enjoy him being around.”
Lett died in 2000 after fighting cancer for several years, but the former Chicago narcotics police officer left a remarkable impact on the lives of one of the greatest athletes of all time.
Lett's Personal Collection and Ties to Jordan
The signed basketball is one of multiple items from Lett's collection, which includes shoes from Jordan's brief baseball career and a pair of original Jordan-worn Air Jordan III sneakers.
“This is a unique and deeply personal collection tied to Michael Jordan’s inner circle,” said Marc Juteau, Classic Auctions' president and founder. “The Game 7 ball, in particular, represents a defining moment in basketball history, and its direct link to Gus Lett makes it even more special.”
After defeating the Indiana Pacers in the 1998 Eastern Conference Finals, the Bulls won their sixth championship in eight years by taking down the Utah Jazz. Jordan retired after the 1998 season before returning to play his final years with the Washington Wizards.
The items from Gus Lett's collection will be available through auction until April 21, and the entirety of April's auction will include over 800 items - trading cards, shoes, jerseys and more.