OG Anunoby and the New York Knicks are currently savoring one of the highest points in their recent history after clinching the championship title over the San Antonio Spurs.
However, the aftermath of the series has also drawn attention off the court, as controversy has emerged after news surfaced that the NBA is auctioning off the game-used ball from Anunoby’s Finals tip-in.
NBA Faces Backlash After Putting OG Anunoby’s Finals Tip-In Ball on Auction Block
In Game 4 of the NBA Finals, the Knicks were trailing 106-105 in the final seconds when Jalen Brunson missed a potential game-winning 3-pointer. Anunoby then flew in for the rebound and tipped it in with roughly 1.2 seconds left, flipping the score to 107-106 and sealing the win.
Anunoby’s play became one of the defining highlights of the series, helping New York take a 3-1 lead on its way to a championship run, marking its first title since 1973.
Meanwhile, after the final buzzer, Anunoby reportedly threw the game ball into the crowd. The ball was later said to have been retrieved by Knicks executives and is now reportedly set to be sold through Sotheby’s.
Due to the NBA’s long-standing partnerships with official auction houses like Sotheby’s for authenticated Finals memorabilia, game-used items from this matchup have quickly gained massive value in the collector market. That is why collector Chase Jordan had an interesting reaction to the auction news of Anunoby’s ball.
“Sotheby’s has secured the ball that OG tipped in to win Game 4 of the NBA Finals. This will go absolutely insane. We will see a new record for a game-used basketball,” Jordan tweeted.
Sotheby’s has secured the ball that OG tipped in to win Game 4 of the NBA Finals.
This will go absolutely insane. We will see a new record for a game used basketball. https://t.co/8znA1t5Fmf pic.twitter.com/kHtyQypitw
— Chase Jordan (@goatcollect) June 20, 2026
The buzz has only intensified speculation about its value, with some collectors, including Darren Rovell, saying it could reach around $3 million.
“Goes live on Sotheby’s June 30. The auction house is not putting an estimate on it, so I will. $3 million,” Rovell wrote.
Compared with historic sports memorabilia sales in other leagues, the projected value appears consistent with top-tier championship artifacts.
Meanwhile, the situation has also sparked debate over player access to game-used items. Players often retain jerseys from championship-clinching games, such as Josh Hart reportedly keeping his uniform. However, questions have arisen about why certain items, like the Game 4 ball, end up in auctions instead.
The issue is also fueling player frustration.
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“Many players have been extremely frustrated by it, and as the collectible market has grown and protocols have been put in place, players have been concerned by what they can or can not take,” Jordan wrote.
As interest in game-used memorabilia continues to rise, many believe this would be an ideal opportunity for NBA and Sotheby’s executives to explain the process for preserving and auctioning historic items publicly.
