Heat F LeBron James has "developed his own limited-edition Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore as his personal timepiece," according to Keith Strandberg of the N.Y. OBSERVER. The "18k pink-gold watch with a titanium bezel is a mixture of sophistication and boldness." The "sapphire crystal exhibition back is engraved with the legend 'Royal Oak Offshore Limited Edition LeBron James' and also features No. 6's signature printed in blue." James said, "When Audemars Piguet makes a watch, they want it to be something people love, just as when I play the game of basketball, I want someone watching to love how I play the game." The watch retails for $51,900 (N.Y. OBSERVER, 2/24 issue).
STYLIN' & PROFILIN': James appears on the cover of GQ's March issue as part of a feature on NBA fashion, and Laskas & Richardson note after three years with the Heat, it is "safe to say" James' "villain persona did not stick." He "tops the league's list of best-selling jerseys." His sneakers "crush the competition in stores," outselling Lakers G Kobe Bryant, his "nearest footwear rival, like six to one." James' line of Nike shoes "generates about" $300M. James "did not go on a PR offensive to achieve redemption among the people who were burning the jerseys" when he left the Cavaliers. He figured that people thinking of him "as some run-of-the-mill narcissistic asshole would give up." If you "keep doing what you do ... people eventually figure out there is more to the story." Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett said, "The thing is, he hasn't changed. He's a solid guy. Fame has not gone to his head. You have to give him credit. I would have been drunk with power. It says a lot about how his mind works" (GQ, 3/'14 issue).
