Horological Hoopsters: More NBA Stars Endorse Watch Brands

As we approach the start of the NBA season, we are reminded that Lebron James — who recently teamed with Audemars Piguet to create a personalized watch — isn’t the only hardcourt hero to join forces with a watch brand. IWC and Tissot have introduced collaborations in recent weeks with, respectively, Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks and Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs.

At an event at its flagship boutique on New York’s Madison Avenue, IWC announced Anthony as an official “Friend of the Brand.” To celebrate the new partnership, Anthony, an IWC watch fan, will star in the latest video from IWC, a special-edition IWC Globetrotter New York film. As with its initial Globetrotter series, the film is an homage to New York City, featuring Anthony’s favorite places around Manhattan, including the IWC boutique.

Meanwhile, in France, Parker hosted the Par Coeur Gala along with official sponsor Tissot. This year, the Par Coeur Association raised over € 200,000 for the Make a Wish Foundation, for which Parker is an ambassador, which helps children suffering from life-threatening medical conditions. To honor Parker, Tissot launched a special-edition watch for the occasion, the PRC 200 Tony Parker Limited Edition 2013. The watch is limited to 4,999 pieces, and features a highlighted “9” (Parker’s jersey number) and a basketball silhouette on the dial.