A very special basketball is going up for sale, the Game 6 ball used by Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal when the Los Angeles Lakers won the 2000 NBA Finals. This was the game where the Lakers beat the Indiana Pacers 116-111 and earned their first title since 1988. The ball is part of Sotheby’s “Winter Sports Classic” auction in New York, and experts say it could sell for $300,000 to $500,000.
Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal’s big 2000 finals moment
Game 6 of the 2000 NBA Finals was a huge night for Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal. It was their first championship win together and the start of the Lakers’ famous three-peat run. The Lakers won the game 116-111 against the Indiana Pacers, closing out the series in Los Angeles.
This was also the first NBA title for the team since 1988, making the win even more historic for the franchise and its fans. The ball from that game became a symbol of the new Lakers era led by Kobe, Shaq, and coach Phil Jackson. Now, that same ball is ready to find a new owner, and many collectors see it as a once-in-a-lifetime piece.
Kobe Bryant’s First NBA Championship Game Ball To Hit Auction, Could Fetch $300K+ | Click to read more 👇 https://t.co/5pJIYbU8Km pic.twitter.com/Bi4syuO7k7
— TMZ Sports (@TMZ_Sports) November 25, 2025
According to TMZ, the “Winter Sports Classic” auction by Sotheby’s is showcasing sports items worth almost $30 million. The ball will be displayed at The Breuer Building in New York, where fans and collectors can view it before bidding begins. According to Sotheby’s Head of Modern Collectibles, Brahm Wachter, this collection shows “the evolution of greatness across generations.”
Other big items in the Sotheby’s Winter Sports Classic auction
The Kobe Bryant Game 6 ball is not the only major highlight in this auction. Sotheby’s is also putting up a full set of Chicago Bulls championship rings, a rare collection that many fans dream of owning.
Another special item is Kevin Durant’s game-worn jersey from his Golden State Warriors debut on October 25, 2016. For baseball fans, the auction includes Shohei Ohtani’s game-used uniform from the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 2024 “Jackie Robinson Day” game. All these items show how the auction brings together pieces from different eras and superstars.
Bidding for all items starts on November 25 and will run until December 11, giving collectors a short window to try to secure these iconic pieces.
