Chicago was a different city before Michael Jordan arrived. The Bulls drew sparse crowds, played uninspiring basketball, and had no reason to attract national attention. Jordan changed that immediately — but original photographs from his actual rookie season of 1984–85 are extraordinarily rare. Most collectors never see one.

This photograph captures everything that made Jordan different. The tongue is out — his most iconic physical signature, already present in his first year. He is in full elevation, soaring above defenders for a dunk. The Air Jordan 1s are clearly visible on his feet — the shoes the NBA banned and fined him $5,000 per game to wear, the shoes that launched the most valuable sneaker brand in history. The full Bulls jersey is sharp and unobstructed.

And then there is Julius Erving in the background — "Dr. J," the player whose style of play Michael Jordan most resembled when he arrived in the league, the legend Jordan was about to surpass. That cameo is not staged. It simply happened. The photographer caught it. That is what makes Type 1 photographs irreplaceable — they document what was actually there.

The back carries Carl Sissac's copyright stamp in pink — "ALL RIGHTS RESERVED · CARL V. SISSAC" — and his handwritten notation: "Rookie Year-85 After All-Star Break · Jordans Dunks." Written in his hand. The original photographer's own words describing what he captured.