Michael Jordan's Home Goes Under the Hammer

A piece of sporting history is up for grabs as the Chicago mansion of basketball legend Michael Jordan goes to auction in mid-December. The former shooting guard, who is considered to be one of the greatest basketball players of all times, used to wear a number 23 jersey, and the number, emblazoned on the entrance gate, is the first sight that greets visitors to his opulent 56,000-square-foot home in Highland Park, a delightful suburb 23 miles north of Chicago. The house awaits at the end of tree-lined drive, a sumptuous contemporary villa where no expense has been spared. Enormous windows flood every room with light, particularly the circular, two-storey living room with grand piano. The stunning, cutting-edge kitchen - fitted with more appliances than you can think of - even has a skylight right above the dinner table. But every room has intriguing details. The dining room features an extraordinary table, custom made for Jordan, which mirrors an aerial map of the city of Baghdad, while the stylish family room has a built-in aquarium and the 504-square-foot master bedroom has a three-sided fireplace and a curved wall with windows framing leafy views. Several entertainment areas make the house perfect for guests - there is a card and cigar room, a wine tasting area, a fully-equipped beauty salon, a fitness studio and a Gentleman's Retreat complete with wet bar and billiard parlour.

And in the pool pavilion, a media area with 110-inch screen and plush sofas is backed by a stylish cocktail bar so you can sip the perfect chilled Martini while watching your favourite film. The glazed roof canopy can retract to bring the outdoor in and full-width sliding doors open onto the vast patio, which features a circular infinity pool complete with lawned island. But the hub of the house is something you'd be hard pushed to find anywhere else. Jordan designed the property himself and equipped it with a state-of-the-art, regulation-size, NBA-quality basketball court. This, his personal training ground, has played host to some of the world's biggest names in the sport. Initially offered for sale at $29 million, Jordan's house is now guided at $13 million. It goes under the hammer on 16 December through Concierge Auctions, in association with listing agents Baird & Warner. Watch a video of the property on Concierge Auctions' website.

Photos via Concierge Auctions.