Posted by Sabrina B. @gametimegirl

First Soccer/Red Sox, now this…The NBA Star is to Represent Renowned Watch Brand on International Stage and Collaborate on Exclusive Limited-Edition Watch as well as Philanthropic Efforts.

Le Brassus, Switzerland (April 10, 2011) Audemars Piguet is delighted to announce the appointment of NBA basketball player LeBron James as the new global brand ambassador.

Audemars Piguet, the world’s oldest watch manufacturer still in the hands of its founding families has chosen LeBron for his commitment to excellence, skilled technique and unwavering generosity – values shared by these two legends.
In addition to representing the brand on the international stage, LeBron will collaborate with Audemars Piguet to create a special limited-edition watch. LeBron has decided to donate the proceeds from any future auctions of his timepieces to his namesake charity, the LeBron James Family Foundation and its children’s related activities. This partnership is another chapter in Audemars Piguet’s long-standing tradition of philanthropy.
LeBron proudly joins an elite roster of brand ambassadors including race car icon Michael Schumacher, Leo Messi who is currently considered the best football player in the world, cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, and top professional golfers such as Lee Westwood, Graeme McDowell, Rory McIlroy and Vijay Singh.

“Audemars Piguet and I strive for excellence in all our endeavors,” said LeBron. “I am honored to be the next global brand ambassador and join the ranks of industry greats who have previously represented the brand. “I am also excited to collaborate with AP on an exclusive timepiece that will be the ultimate symbol of our partnership,” adds LeBron.

“LeBron James is a gifted athlete and an exceptional humanitarian. His mission truly mirrors ours and we are delighted to welcome him to the Audemars Piguet family,” said Philippe Merk, CEO of Audemars Piguet.

“We have a history of partnering with those at the top of their game and right now, LeBron is like a comet,” said Francois-Henry Bennahmias, President of AP North America. “Not only does he burn up the court, but he maintains the right balance of family, philanthropy and fame.”

LeBron James is widely considered one of the greatest athletes of his generation. LeBron took the basketball world by storm when, at just 18, he was selected as the number one pick in the 2003 NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers and named the youngest ever NBA Rookie of the Year during his first year.

Now in his eighth season in the league, LeBron plays for the Miami Heat. He has been both All-NBA and an NBA All-Star every season since 2005, and is only the tenth NBA player to win the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in back-to-back seasons and only the 12th player to win MVP on more than one occasion. LeBron continues to break NBA records and receive honors and his extraordinary basketball skills have won him the admiration of fans from across the globe, and have made him an international icon. LeBron has become a pop-culture and global icon gracing the covers of Fortune, Time, GQ and Vogue magazines to name a few.

About the LeBron James Family Foundation
Founded in 2004, the LeBron James Foundation empowers children and single-parent households through innovative programming and initiatives, strengthening the ties between family members and building hope through education, physical fitness and better health for those who are dealing with adversity. Among the Foundation’s most important national programs are the LJFF Playground Build Initiative, which is focused on developing family-centered safe play spaces where children can be physically active in a multi-dimensional environment that encourages creative play. In addition, the Foundation hosts the

“King for Kids Bikeathon,” a fun-filled family event that honors the Akron area children where LeBron comes from while promoting physical fitness and raising awareness and critical funding for important community initiatives focused on empowering children and families.

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