TAMPA, Fla. -- The Last Dance is one of the highest-rated shows on television. The 10-part documentary featuring Michael Jordan and the 1997-1998 Chicago Bulls concludes this weekend.
The popularity of the show has boosted sales of Air Jordan shoes over the past few weeks.
"The market is definitely up," said Kickzr4us owner William Mendez. "Depending on the shoe, two-fold. Twenty percent, thirty percent. Just depends on what model, what type. His name is legacy. The Baby Boomers, now the Baby Boomers have passed that down to their kids. Staying relevant, and it’s going to continue to stay relevant."
The Jordan brand has driven the sneaker market since the "Jordan I" was released in 1985. Neither the brand nor the market seem to be losing steam.
"Now that the market is pretty much monitored like a stock market." Mendez said. "It’s a pretty good time to be in sneakers. There’s a lot of people following it."
Mendez says despite the COVID-19 slowdown, internet sales are high and they're being driven by a younger audience.
"It’s part of our culture. It’s ingrained now. How cars ingrained in the 60s and 70s. The new generation, they collect sneakers. It’s part of their childhood. It’s part of their memories of them growing up. There’s value behind that because a lot of people are following it," he said.
A game-worn, signed pair of 1985 Jordan 1s are up for auction on the Sotheby's website. As of Friday night, the highest bid was $240,000.
ESPN airs the final two episodes of The Last Dance on Sunday, May 17 at 9 p.m. ET.
