No sale for perhaps the most important piece of memorabilia from this year’s NBA Finals.
The ball that OG Anunoby tipped in during the final seconds of the Knicks’ 29-point comeback win over the Spurs in Game 4 was set to go up for auction at 10 a.m. ET on Tuesday, but that was thwarted by the league.
“The game ball from Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals holds significant importance to the New York Knicks, their fans, and the city, and will remain with the team as a lasting piece of franchise history,” an NBA spokesperson said in a statement. “As such, it will not be included in Sotheby’s June 30 auction, which will continue to feature a curated selection of authentic jerseys and memorabilia from the series.”
The ball was expected to fetch a hefty $3 million, though it could have drawn an even higher price if the right buyer had been present at the auction.
Collectibles have exploded in recent years, with Fanatics at the forefront of creative art pieces that often include game-worn jerseys and athlete autographs.
The Knicks trailed by as many as 29 points in Game 4, facing an 81-52 deficit with 9:40 left in the third quarter, but they began chipping away behind an NBA Finals-record 14 3-pointers in the second half.
Anunoby provided arguably the most iconic moment in franchise history when Finals MVP Jalen Brunson shot a 3-pointer from long range with about five seconds left in the game and the Knicks down 106-105.
Brunson’s shot came up short as he hit the front iron, while Anunoby, the inbounder, skied to tip in the ball with 1.2 seconds remaining and a 107-106 lead that they would not relinquish.
The rest is history and it belongs to the Knicks — not a memorabilia collector.
