Los Angeles Lakers title basketball becomes most expensive championship ball ever sold
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New York, Dec. 12, 2025 — A basketball used to clinch the 2000 NBA Finals, signed by Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal and other members of the Los Angeles Lakers, fetched $508,000 at a Sotheby’s auction, setting a new record for a championship-deciding game ball.
The previous high was the $107,950 paid in July for the ball from the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 2025 title win. Sotheby’s confirmed the 2000 Lakers ball includes more than a dozen signatures and carries photo-matching documentation from MeiGray and Sports Investors Authentication, along with a Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) letter verifying the autographs.
A ball from the 2001 Finals, the second victory in the Lakers’ three-peat and also signed by Bryant and several teammates, realized $317,500 in the same sale.
Jordan rookie sneakers lead other lots
The auction’s top price went to a pair of game-worn, signed Michael Jordan “Air Ship” sneakers from Dec. 2, 1984—his first on-court meeting with Magic Johnson—selling for $698,500. MeiGray and SIA provided photo matches, and PSA authenticated Jordan’s signature.
Additional highlights included a full set of six Chicago Bulls championship rings once owned by longtime team security guard John Capps, which brought in $406,400, and a signed Shohei Ohtani jersey worn on 2024 Jackie Robinson Day that sold for $330,200. The Ohtani jersey bears verification stickers from MeiGray, MLB Authenticated and Fanatics.
Rounding out the event, the shirt Rory McIlroy wore while sealing his 2011 U.S. Open victory achieved $146,050, establishing a record price for McIlroy memorabilia.
Source: ESPN
