Championship-clinching basketballs from the 2000 NBA Finals -- which markedKobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal's first title together and the Los Angeles Lakers ' first title since 1988 -- and the 2001 NBA Finals, the second in the Lakers' three-peat, sold for $508,000 and $317,500, respectively, at Sotheby's.

The balls are both signed by at least a dozen Lakers; the 2000 ball is signed by both Bryant and O'Neal, and the 2001 ball is signed by Bryant. Both balls include photo-matching letters from companies MeiGray and Sports Investors Authentication as well as letters from Professional Sports Authenticator verifying authenticity of the signatures.

The $508,000 for the 2000 Finals ball is the most ever paid for a championship-clinching ball, according to Sotheby's. The previous record bel

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