From LeBron to Steph Curry, the NBA superstars totally slam-dunking their #wristgame

Zach Blass

Basketball is back and not in the bubble! But while the players battle it out on the court, as always, an equally fascinating sideshow will also unfold for watch enthusiasts. That’s because the NBA is not only home to some of sport’s biggest superstars, but also some superstar watch collections. Rolex, Audemars Piguet, Richard Mille, Patek Philippe, Cartier – you name it, they’ve got it. To celebrate the return of basketball, we wanted to highlight some of the watches we have seen the best in the game wear – whether courtside, heading to and from the locker room, during press conferences, or out and about on their days off.

Kevin Love

Kevin Love is a renowned watch collector with an affinity for classic and timeless pieces. While he is still working towards acquiring a Rolex “Paul Newman” Daytona, he is hardly messing about in the meantime. Here, he’s seen heading to the locker room wearing his Rolex Day-Date in Everose gold on a President bracelet. With the chocolate dial bringing out the rich tones of the gold, it’s an unimpeachable choice, with a Day-Date offering that rare combo of elegance and prestige.

The Rolex Day-Date 228235 in Everose Gold on a President bracelet is available for inquiries at authorised dealers. Price: $43,700 USD

Stephen Curry

Stephen Curry is a class act within the league and one of the best players on the planet. He is not particularly known for having an extensive watch collection, instead opting for a tight selection of a few killer timepieces. He is commonly spotted sporting his Cartier Santos de Cartier Large Skeleton in pink gold – opting for the more subdued configuration of the bundled leather strap instead of the more flashy look achieved on its pink gold bracelet. Fortunately for Curry, Cartier has mastered quick release and swap technology, making it a breeze to go between the strap and bracelet. Even the bracelet links can be removed via a quick system – kudos to Cartier for being ahead of the curve in this regard.

The Cartier Santos de Cartier Large Skeleton Watch in pink gold is available for purchase from Cartier and authorised dealers. Price: Upon request.

James Harden

James Harden recently purchased a Richard Mille watch for rapper and friend Lil Baby, but the choice of watch was likely due to the fact Harden has a soft spot for Richard Mille himself. In a press conference, Harden was clocked wearing his RM 11-03 McLaren Automatic Flyback watch, with the orange strap and accents reflecting his bold personality on and off the court. Richard Mille watches are prized for their scarce supply, irresistible marketing and, to be fair, their highly robust case builds and movements. This is a watch that can withstand the shock and awe of James Harden’s full-contact lifestyle.

The Richard Mille RM 11-03 McLaren Automatic Flyback Chronograph is available for purchase on the secondhand market. Price: Around $400,000 USD

Andre Iguodala

Andre Iguodola was one of the earlier visitors to the Talking Watches segment filmed by Hodinkee. It is clear from the video, as well as other videos, the force is strong with this horologically enthused superstar. While a fan of brands such as Audemars Piguet, Rolex and Hublot – it all began for Iguodola with Panerai. He acquired one when he was drafted into the league, but it was unfortunately stolen from the locker room during a game while he was on the court. Thankfully, Iguodola has found a lot of success in basketball since then and has been able to subsequently acquire more Panerai watches. But there is still a hole in his heart from losing his first.

To showcase a watch not previously discussed by the superstar, Iguodola also owns an Everose Rolex Cosmograph Daytona – opting to pair it with a leather strap instead of its original Oysterflex bracelet. The chocolate notes of the dial and black ceramic bezel make the watch a killer blend of sports/dress, a watch ready for a spontaneous free-throw contest if the situation calls for it.

The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 116515LN in Everose Gold on Oysterflex Bracelet is available for inquiries at authorised dealers. Price: $29,700 USD

LeBron James

While he is known to have a large collection of watches, LeBron James is regularly spotted wearing his two-tone Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore watch. It has a 44mm rose gold case with an off-tone titanium bezel and is highly unusual in this respect, as, more often than not, two-tone pieces have precious bezels paired with steel or titanium cases. Yet this configuration actually makes a lot of sense, considering the bezel is usually what takes the brunt of the shock when door-knobbed or desk diving. The watch also has a diamond-covered pusher at 2 o’clock to add some subtle bling to the offering. The Offshore is by no means an uncommon watch on NBA players’ wrists, but this watch is special in that the reference was designed in collaboration with James, an ambassador for the brand, and even named after him to celebrate the partnership. Man, is it good to be the king.

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 26210OI.OO.A109CR.01 “LeBron James” is a limited edition of 600 watches that is no longer for sale, and fetches about $72,000 USD on the secondary market.