He is selling a dream

Ordinary people can only dream of a home like this.

For basketball legend Michael Jordan, though, this has been his home for almost 20 years.

Now, he wants to let go of it. The 56,000 sq ft mansion in the US state of Illinois is up for auction, with the bidding set to open on Nov 22, the New York Daily News reported.

The former Chicago Bulls star designed the home itself.

The 2ha property is in Highland Park, a suburb 30 minutes north of Chicago. The contemporary-style home has nine bedrooms and 19 bathrooms.

According to the auction company Concierge Auctions, it also has a threebedroom guest wing, an outdoor tennis court, pool pavilion and entertaining area, a deep water pond, putting green and three climate-controlled multicar garages.

In 2001, he built a full-size, regulation basketball court that is attached to the home, but has a separate entry and nearby parking area.

Next to the basketball court are locker rooms and showers as well as a lounge with leather chairs, a built-in television and a glass observation overlook, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported.

In an e-mail to WSJ, he said he is selling the home because "my kids are grown now and I don't need a large house in Chicago".

Last year, the house was valued at US$29 million (S$36 million), but the price was reduced by US$8 million this year. Jordan, who owns the basketball team the Charlotte Bobcats, said he splits his time between the team's base in North Carolina and a new home in Florida.

He said: "It was time for some warmer weather down at my new home in Florida."

He also has a holiday home in the state of Utah, the report said.

All the furnishings and accessories of his Illinois mansion are included, so the buyer will also be the proud owner of items such as a pool table, a dining room table made to look like a map of Baghdad and swivel high-top chairs with the Jumpman logo - the Michael Jordan silhouette logo used by Nike for its Jordan-related merchandise.

Get The New Paper for more stories.