The power of Michael Jordan — beyond Sports Illustrated covers

It's no surprise that Michael Jordan Sports Illustrated covers dominate the graded magazine market. Record-setting auction sales of Jordan covers have fueled the rapid rise of the hobby — $126,000 for Jordan's first pro cover ("A Star Is Born") graded 9.8 by CGC, in 2023; $229,360 for Jordan's first cover (with North Carolina teammate Sam Perkins) graded 9.6 by PSA, in March of 2026; and $378,200 for Jordan's "A Star Is Born" issue graded 9.8 by CGC in September.

And the Jordan phenomenon shows no signs of abating. If anything, it continues to pick up speed 23 years after his final game. Jordan issues of Sports Illustrated continue to drive the market. Not only the "holy grail" issues (his first cover and his third cover), and his pre-championship issues, but later-era Jordan issues from the Bulls' second three-peat and even later issues with the Wizards have been commanding higher prices recently.

Even relatively plentiful Jordan covers are commanding higher prices. On Oct. 17, Jordan's 1991 Sportsman of the Year "hologram" issue graded 9.8 by CGC sold at a Goldin auction for $8,296 — a stunning price considering there are 41 copies of that issue graded 9.8 in the CGC census. That's pretty impressive.

But the Jordan-cover popularity in the graded-magazine market is largely tethered to Sports Illustrated. Jordan covers on non-SI magazines have some catching up to do. The best of the best command high prices, but in general, a non-SI Jordan cover doesn't quite carry the magic of a weekly issue SI cover. (Even commemorative SI issues lag behind the 50 weekly issues (52 if you include the 1991 Mike Tyson cover with the Jordan inset after winning his first ring and the 1996 Phil Jackson "The Running of the Bulls" issue, with Jordan in the blurry foreground.)

Still, just about anything Jordan sells, and there are some great Jordan covers that aren't Sports Illustrated issues. Here are 10 favorites:

10. Jet (June 12, 1989)

9. Fast Break (Turkey) (September, 1991)

A personal favorite for selfish reasons — I was the NBA correspondent for Fast Break magazine out of Istanbul, Turkey in the early 1990s. This was a review of the Bulls' first championship in 1991.

8. Sports Cards (May, 1994)

Action shot of Jordan when he played minor-league baseball in the White Sox organization, and wearing No. 23.

7. Basketball Digest (November, 1993)

Interesting cover because it features Jordan in a season he never played. Jordan retired from basketball in October of 1993 — too late for publication of Basketball Digest's 1993-94 season preview.

6. Esquire (November, 1993)

This Esquire magazine story featured excerpts from Jordan's book, "Rare Air."

5. Inside Sports (May, 1990)

4. Time (June 22, 1998)

3. SLAM (July, 1995)

The emotion from Jordan in this cover contrasts the Time portrait, but both are classic covers.

2. Street & Smith (1986-87 Basketball Preview)

A great early Jordan cover that is now getting its due as a collectible, with MJ wearing the Air Jordans he made famous.

1. Newsweek (July 6, 1992)

The Sports Illustrated "Dream Team" cover is the best, but this Newsweek cover has Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird — the three players who arguably are most responsible for taking the NBA to a stratospheric level.

And the rest ...

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