Kobe and Shaq’s Off Court Competition

With the 2009-2010 NBA season officially underway, the competition between players is heating up both on and off the court. Cleveland Cavalier Shaquille O’Neal and Los Angeles Laker Kobe Bryant are known to have had their fair share of spats on the court, but as with many athletes, they are also the ambassadors for numerous products that put them head to head after game time too.

Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal are extremely recognizable celebrities and legendary athletes, an ideal combination for sponsors looking to attract customers by way of the “if that celebrity has it, I want it” mentality. Both Bryant and O’Neal are involved in relationships with companies that realize the star power each of these men have, but when it comes down to customer’s choosing which product to purchase, what’s really the deciding factor between being like Bryant, or being like O’Neal?

Bryant has an ongoing relationship with Swiss watchmaker Nubeo and they have created a watch that is named after Bryant’s nickname, Black Mamba. Nubeo has a variety of high-end men’s and women’s watches which are priced from $25,000 all the way to $250,000 for the very limited Black Mamba MVP, which has rings of baguette cut, whiskey-colored sapphire crystals.

O’Niel also works with very high-end watches including Audemars Piguet. His Royal Oak Offshore watch from Piguet was released in 2007 with only 960 pieces being produced. The watch sells for more than $30,000.

Below are two pictures showing Bryant and O’Niel with their watches, let us know which one you’d be inclined to buy and why.

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