New York Knicks fans, brace yourselves. A piece of history, so specific and glorious it almost hurts, is hitting the auction block. Sotheby's, the place usually reserved for Old Masters and diamonds you can't afford to look at, is now selling a basketball. But not just any basketball. This one secured the largest comeback in NBA Finals history.
Yes, we're talking about the game-winning ball from Game 4 of this year's NBA Finals. The one that saw the Knicks, against all odds and the San Antonio Spurs, pull off a 29-point deficit at Madison Square Garden. Because apparently that's where we are now: art houses dealing in game-used leather.
The Hand of OG
The hero of this particular rebound tale? OG Anunoby. With seconds ticking down, he tipped in a missed Jalen Brunson three-pointer, sealing a 107–106 victory. A win that didn't just break hearts (mostly Spurs fans'), but also set the stage for the Knicks' championship-clinching Game 5.
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Start Your News DetoxSotheby's, with a flair for the dramatic, has officially named the ball "The Hand of OG." It goes up for grabs in an online auction starting June 30. And if you're wondering what a piece of history like this might fetch, sports analyst Darren Rovell has a number for you: $3 million. Let that satisfyingly round number sink in.
The NBA isn't stopping there. Along with "The Hand of OG," they're offering 35 other Finals items, because why not? Think game-used jerseys, the actual net from Games 1 and 5 (which, if you think about it, is both impressive and slightly terrifying), and even a piece of the court itself. This is all part of a larger partnership with the NBA, featuring 109 items in total, mostly game-worn playoff jerseys.
From Fine Art to Fast Breaks
This foray into sports memorabilia isn't just a random whim for Sotheby's. Auction houses are increasingly looking beyond traditional art. Sports collectibles, along with other luxury items like handbags and jewelry, are now key categories. It's a clever strategy to reel in new buyers who might not be in the market for a Monet, but definitely appreciate a good comeback story.
As Tad Smith, former Sotheby's CEO, put it, art collectors are luxury consumers, but not all luxury consumers are major art collectors. So, you start with the luxury item — say, a basketball that made history — and then, maybe, just maybe, they'll wander over to the Old Masters section. Guillaume Cerutti, former Christie's CEO, agrees, noting that luxury sales are a golden ticket for attracting new clients and making auctions less intimidating.
So, who's going to drop $3 million on a basketball? Probably someone who was willing to shell out nearly $100,000 for a courtside seat at Game 4. Or perhaps a certain Knicks superfan named Spike Lee, who already has a reputation for collecting iconic pop culture items. Either way, someone's going to own a piece of history. And probably a very, very secure display case.
