The Game 6 ball used by Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, and the Los Angeles Lakers when they won the 2000 NBA Finals over the Indiana Pacers is reportedly now on the auction block, per TMZ Sports.
Kobe Bryant Among 12 Lakers To Sign Ball
Bidding for the item is part of the Sotheby’s “Winter Sports Classic,” with the auction house listing roughly $30 million worth of sports memorabilia at The Breuer Building in New York, according to TMZ.
The Game 6 ball was signed by 12 members of the Lakers, including Bryant and O’Neal. Bidding runs from now until Dec. 11 at 9:06 p.m. ET. The current bid is $400,000.
Per Sotheby’s listing, the basketball is accompanied by photomatch letters from Meigray and Sports Investors Authentication. It is also accompanied by a PSA letter for the signatures.
The 1999-00 Lakers marked the first championship squad of the O’Neal-Bryant-Phil Jackson era. The 2000 title was also the Lakers’ first NBA championship since 1988, ending a 12-year title drought.
“It’s everything and more. I mean you have the…Lakers colors falling from the ceiling, the fans going crazy, I got the hat on and everything covering my fro’, it feels great,” Bryant said after winning his first NBA championship.
“We worked so hard. It was a hard-fought game, but we finally got a championship, and it feels great. … There’s no feeling quite like it is there? Can’t wait to do it again.”
2000 NBA Title Sparked Lakers’ Three-Peat
More importantly, the 2000 championship kickstarted a new dynasty under coach Jackson. The Lakers went on to complete a three-peat, defeating the Philadelphia 76ers in 2001 and New Jersey Nets in 2002.
The 1999-00 Lakers finished the regular season with a record of 67-15 — second-best in franchise history behind the 1971-72 Lakers (69-13). O’Neal was also named the league MVP.
After defeating the Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns in the first two rounds of the playoffs, the Portland Trail Blazers took the Lakers to Game 7 of the Western Conference finals.
Down 15 points with just over 10 minutes to play, Los Angeles orchestrated the greatest Game 7 comeback in NBA history, defeating Portland 89-84.
In Game 6 of the NBA Finals, Bryant recorded 26 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, one steal, and two blocks in 44 minutes of action. His efficiency, however, left more to be desired.
Bryant shot just 8-of-27 (29.6%) from the field and only 2-of-6 (33.3%) from deep.
After the season, executive Jerry West finally announced his retirement after building one of the most decorated résumés as a player, coach, and manager.
