That game ball OG Anunoby somehow tipped in to complete the Knicks’ 29-point Finals comeback? It was about to hit the auction block. Then it wasn’t.
Darren Rovell reported Tuesday that the ball was yanked from a Sotheby’s auction just 30 minutes before bidding was set to open at 10 a.m. EST on June 30. Instead of going to the highest bidder, the ball was handed over to the Knicks organization.
Sotheby’s put out a statement explaining the flip. “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,” it read. “As such, it will not be included in Sotheby’s June 30 auction, which will continue to feature a curated collection of authentic jerseys and memorabilia from the series.”
No word yet on whether the Knicks actually paid for it. Rovell noted that detail remains unclear.
A tip-in for the ages
Here’s what happened. The Knicks were down big in Game 4 against the San Antonio Spurs. Like, historically big. Jalen Brunson hoisted a deep three that clanged off the rim. In the scrum under the basket, Anunoby materialized out of nowhere and tipped it in, giving New York a one-point lead. That bucket capped a 33-point night for him, a series high.
The Knicks held on, completing a 29-point comeback and taking a 3-1 series lead. They closed it out in Game 5 behind Brunson’s 45-point explosion.
So yeah, that ball is about as meaningful as a piece of leather can be for a franchise that’s been chasing this kind of moment for decades.
Where it goes from here
For now, the ball stays with the team. Maybe it ends up in a display case at Madison Square Garden. Maybe it shows up at a charity event years down the road. Or maybe it just sits in a safe somewhere, unlikely to see the light of day again. The Knicks haven’t said what they plan to do with it.
What’s clear is that fans made enough noise about the auction that Sotheby’s blinked. The idea of someone cashing in on that moment didn’t sit right with a lot of people, especially after what that run meant to the city. New York hadn’t seen a championship since 1973. The ball from the game that essentially sealed the title? That felt like it belonged to the team, not a private collector’s shelf.
Anunoby’s tip-in already has a name floating around. “Hand of God” type stuff. Hyperbolic? Maybe. But in a city that’s been waiting half a century for a parade, nobody’s in the mood to split hairs.
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