In the Pantheon of Basketball, LeBron James has forged a reigning position. His ascent to becoming the ‘King’, as he is popularly known, is a testament to an unrivalled career made from an alchemy of athleticism, discipline, and strategic genius.
A reign marked by four NBA championships, four MVP awards, and record-breaking scores. His dominion has seen him not just conquer but redefine the very essence of modern-day basketball royalty.
LeBron’s success has made him a magnet for global brands. In 2015, he signed a lifetime deal with sports retail giant, Nike, the first in the company’s history, reportedly worth over $1 billion. As the living legend rolls in a record-setting 23rd NBA season, Nike chose to celebrate King James’ milestone with a very special crown created by one of India’s most celebrated high-end jeweller, The Gem Palace from Jaipur.
Samarth Kasliwal, Partner, The Gem Palace, in an exclusive interview with Shilpa Dhamija, recounts the prestigious commission that saw the esteemed jewellery house craft the crown for basketball’s undisputed monarch, LeBron James, in partnership with Nike.
How did The Gem Palace secure the extraordinary commission to craft a crown for LeBron James?
Our distinguished commission to craft a crown for LeBron James originated from Nike’s extensive commemorative initiative for his 23rd season. This celebration was hosted at The House of King James, an exhibition space in Shanghai, designed by Nike to honour James’s enduring legacy and their new LeBron-23 shoe line.
I received a call facilitated by a London-based creative agency, Consul Studio, expressing Nike’s intent to partner with us for this unique undertaking. I was travelling outside India, at the time, but recognising this as an unparalleled opportunity to collaborate with a globally renowned figure like LeBron James, we promptly accepted the challenge.
The project demanded exceptional agility with a mere seven-day window allotted for design, approval, and the intricate creation of the crown. We quickly assembled our leading artisans and goldsmiths and successfully completed and delivered the crown to Nike at Portland, US, within the stringent seven-day deadline.
How was the crown’s design conceived and approved? Did you get to interact with LeBron James for fittings?
Nike wanted to materialise the LeBron’s iconic crown into a physical crown. If you look closely at LeBron James’s logo, you’ll see a crown. The objective was clear; capture his reflective aura and the essence of his personal logo. We were entrusted with Nike’s vision, working within their initial ideas and conceptual framework. Our role involved a dynamic dialogue, clearly communicating the practicalities.
The resulting physical crown became a testament of meticulous detail and a rich narrative. Each element is thoughtfully done. The crown has inscriptions, serving as a powerful tribute to his storied career. One side features the names of the states where he has played, marking the geographical milestones of his journey. On the other, significant dates chronicle his remarkable achievements, weaving a timeline of his dominance.
Yet the most poignant detail sits prominently at the centre of the crown; the message ‘Just a kid from Akron’. This simple yet powerful phrase grounds the regal symbol in his humble origins, a constant reminder of where his extraordinary path began. It’s an acknowledgment of LeBron’s deep connection to his roots and a celebration of his enduring legacy.
We did not get a chance to meet him because of the limited time. However, we delivered a great piece on time, which was our priority.
You created not one but three versions of the same crown? Can you share more details of the craftsmanship and techniques used to make them?
We created three crowns for him: one for the campaign shoot, another for display in Shanghai during LeBron James’s China tour i.e. at the ‘Forever King’ exhibition, and a third presented to him as a gift.
We used traditional Indian chittayi (engraving) on the crown, crafted in silver with gold detailing to ensure strength and durability. All three feature intricate hand engraving and embossing. One of these will be presented to LeBron as a gift in the first week of November.
We didn’t get the chance to meet LeBron. We were given the measurements and specifications. However, we hope to meet him someday!
The Gem Palace boasts a storied legacy of attracting high-profile connoisseurs. What initiatives are you currently undertaking to expand your reach and attract new clientele, globally?
We recently concluded a highly successful large pop-up event at Shinsegae Department Store in Seoul, one of South Korea’s largest. It is, notably, the top-performing department store in the country by sales in 2023. This achievement builds upon the success of a smaller pop-up held there last year.