A signed original 1988 photograph of Michael Jordan’s legendary free-throw-line dunk is now up for auction, offered as the headline lot in Goldin’s Fall Photography Auction.
The Shot That Defined a Legend
On February 6, 1988, Chicago Bulls team photographer Bill Smith captured 24-year-old Jordan soaring four feet above the court during the NBA Slam Dunk Contest at Chicago Stadium. The image shows Jordan mid-flight, wearing his Air Jordan 3s with the Jumpman logo, palming the ball in one hand as he launches toward the basket.
Smith’s photograph has become one of the most iconic sports images ever taken. Alongside Sports Illustrated photographer Walter Iooss Jr.’s view from beneath the basket, Smith’s shot helped define Jordan’s free-throw-line dunk and contributed to the NBA’s growing global popularity.
The photograph is now a PSA-certified Type 1 Original Photo, signed by Jordan himself. It is one of only three such certified Type I Photos that exist, making it a rare collectible for sports memorabilia enthusiasts.
Capturing the Impossible
In a 2020 interview with the Chicago Bulls, Smith recalled the careful planning behind the shot. He positioned himself on the sideline between the basket and the free-throw line to capture the full extent of Jordan’s leap.
“I had seen Michael in practice and knew he was going to try the free-throw-line dunk,” Smith said. “But I didn’t know when. I put a lot of calculation into where I positioned myself. I wanted to show the divide between the basket and the free throw line, the whole expanse under him, so I held a spot on the sideline between the basket and the line, a little closer to the basket.”
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Smith used a Canon camera with a standard 50mm lens and strobe lights mounted in the catwalks. The slow recycle time of the flashes meant he had only one chance to capture the moment.
After developing the film overnight at a 24-hour lab, Smith anxiously reviewed the slides. “My hand was shaking. I was scared to look at the frame. So many things can go wrong. His eyes could be closed. His hand could be blocking the ball. But it captured exactly what you saw.”
Auction Spotlight
The Goldin’s Fall Photography Auction, which runs through November 4, features iconic images of sports legends. Among the highlights is a September 29, 1996 Type 1 Photo of 18-year-old Kobe Bryant in his Los Angeles Lakers uniform.
PSA/DNA’s principal authenticator Henry Yee praised Smith’s photograph, calling it the definitive image of Jordan’s airborne prowess. “Michael Jordan was the most photographed athlete of the century… and it’s not even close. Of those tens of thousands of images captured, there is no singular image that defines the ‘Air’ in Air Jordan better than Bill Smith’s masterpiece.”
Yee described the photograph’s unique perspective, noting how it captures Jordan defying gravity. “His jaw-dropping worm’s-eye view from court level of a soaring Jordan in midflight provides the perspective of how a man can actually defy gravity and the laws of physics as we know it.”
