Nike 50th Anniversary Auction – Sneakers for the Books!

It’s already been 50 years of Swoosh. The sportswear giant started out as a humble dream of a coach and his student! And obviously, that dream grew bigger, and it’s still growing today. So, to celebrate the Nike 50th anniversary, Sotheby’s is hosting a huge auction. Although we’re no strangers to expensive auctions, this one is very different. We’re not even kidding, it’s a collector’s dream in there with some grails to die for. So what will this auction include? Let’s find out together!

Nike: A History

Before we dive into the coolest celebration of the year, let’s take a look at how the sportswear giant became what it is today. So the dream started with Bill Bowerman, a track-and-field coach, and his student Phil Knight. And that’s how Blue Ribbon Sports came to life in 1964, as an exclusive retailer of the Japanese Onitsuka Tiger. But after a dramatic breakup, Bowerman and Knight decided to launch their own proper company. That company became what we know today as Nike with its Swoosh logo.

So in 1972, Nike Inc. became official with the Tiger Cortez (aka Nike Cortez) as its bestseller. But thanks to a waffle iron, Bill Bowerman created the next hit: the Nike Waffle. And the rest was history! As of December 2022, Nike Inc.’s market cap is $171.62B, and quarterly revenue is $12.69B (August 2022). And if you wanna read more about the history of the brand, check this out.

100 Items for the Nike 50th Anniversary!

We’re familiar with awesome sneaker auctions, we really are. But the auction Sotheby’s is hosting to celebrate the Nike 50th anniversary is just something else. So the company, in collaboration with Super Bowl champion Victor Cruz, curated 103 Nike items from different eras. From apparel and accessories to sneakers, each item is a reminder of past collabs and releases.

But let’s be real here, all eyes will be on the exclusive sneakers. We got prototypes and samples that people would go crazy over. And we also have sneakers that are so rare, sneakerheads believe they’re a legend! These are the Holy Grails of sneakers for so many. So money shall be paid, and sneakers shall be bought to expand their sneaker collections! The auction will be two weeks long, from November 29 to December 13.

What Will the Nike 50th Anniversary Auction Include?

You can check out the full list of the 100 items right here. However, we decided to make a list of kicks that are definitely personal grails to serious collectors. So, here are all the sneakers that are worth celebrating during the Nike 50th anniversary! Make sure you’ve got a pocketful of money for these babies though! PS: The sneakers with N/A resale value are that rare.

Nike Dunk Collection

Nike Dunk Paris Low Sample
Avg. Resale: $40,918

Nike Dunk Low London
Avg. Resale: $19,598

“What the Doernbecher” Nike SB Dunk High
Avg. Resale: N/A

Nike Dunk Low Heineken
Avg. Resale: $4,298

Wu-Tang Nike Dunk High
Avg. Resale: N/A

CNCPTS Nike SB Dunk Low Green Lobster
Avg. Resale: $1,388

Jordan Collection

Jordan 4 Undefeated (2005)
Avg. Resale: $8,118

Air Jordan 3&8 Kobe Bryant Pack
Avg. Resale: $15,000

Jordan 3 DJ Khaled “Father of Asahd”
Avg. Resale: $5,600

Travis Scott Jordan 4 F&F
Avg. Resale: N/A

Virgil Abloh Off-White Jordan 1 UNC
Avg. Resale: $2,303

Jordan 4 Eminem “Encore” Sample
Avg. Resale: $23,888

Misc. Silhouettes

Nike Mag “Back to the Future”
Avg. Resale: $20,147

Air Force 1 PlayStation Sample
Avg. Resale: $5,500