NBA stars and their cars

Although the Black Mamba recently wrote a $329,000 check for a Ferrari 458 Italia and chauffeurs his family around Tinseltown in a $100,000 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, Kobe Bryant still prefers the Old World charm and craftsmanship of the Bentley Continental GT when he wants to cruise around. Equipped with a 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged 560-horsepower W12 engine, the GT will accelerate from zero to 60 mph in less than 4.8 seconds and reach a top speed 197.6 mph.

2012 Bentley Continental GT

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When Marcin Gortat was a backup center for the Orlando Magic, he wasn't a standout on the court. Off the court was a different matter. A part-time mechanic in his native Poland before signing his first lucrative NBA contract, Gortat modified this black BMW M5 to squeeze out every bit of performance possible. He even outfitted it with an 800-horsepower engine. Gortat says it can go faster than 200 mph and best any Ferrari or Lamborghini in a zero-to-60 mph sprint.

2013 BMW M5

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This 6-foot-8-inch forward owns two tricked-out Range Rover Sport: one that is all-white and sits on 22-inch Giovanna Caracas wheels, the other a red and white two-tone with 22-inch GFG Baghdad 3-piece wheels, which are color-matched to the car. Jackson also owns a customized Rolls-Royce Phantom with 24-inch Forgiato Otto wheels.

2013 Land Rover Range Rover

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The hand-built Knight XV truck is bigger than life and brash in stature and personality, just like its 6-foot 11-inch owner, commanding the full attention of everyone on the road with its aggressive looks and massive 40-inch wheels. Inside, the dash features a state-of-the-art navigation system, and the back seats have been removed and replaced with an LCD screen and an Xbox so Lakers center Howard and his boys can let off steam after a hard game.

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Carlos Boozer may not have the prettiest game in the land, but the Chicago Bulls power forward has an eye for pretty cars. In addition to a Maserati GranTurismo with 22-inch Forgiato Concavo wheels and a Maybach on 24-inch Forgiato Aresto wheels, you'll find this Ferrari F430 Spyder in his garage. Its V8 engine puts out an impressive 483 horsepower and 343 lb-ft of torque, and it has an electronically controlled differential to manage understeer and oversteer.

2009 Ferrari F430

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The Miami Heat superstar LeBron James has a stable of hot rides, including an all-white Camaro SS and a burnt-orange Jeep. But none is as scorching as this pimped-out gunmetal-gray Ferrari F430 convertible with color-matched wheels and a red leather interior. King James bought it and had it customized during the 2008 NBA playoff campaign when he was a Cleveland Cavalier. While the sexy supercar has only a V8 engine, the relatively small 483-horsepower mill will propel the land rocket to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds.

2009 Ferrari F430

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Andrew Bynum isn't the fastest NBA player on the court; chronic knee issues have hobbled the center the past few years. But off the hardwood he's a speed demon, with a toy chest of stylish supercars, including a Nissan GTR, a Ferrari F430, a wide-body Dodge Challenger SRT8 and this Ferrari 599 GTB. This 3,726-pound sports car has an aluminum chassis, body and powertrain and is powered by a 6.0-liter V12 engine that produces 611 horsepower and 448 lb-ft of torque.

2011 Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano

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Just days after signing a $9.5 million contract with the New York Knicks, who believed the seasoned point guard would bring maturity and veteran leadership to the team, Jason Kidd wrapped this 2010 Cadillac Escalade around a telephone pole in South Hampton, N.Y. A favorite among ball players, the Escalade is primarily for buyers who like their SUVs large, loud and unapologetically American. Generously proportioned inside and out, this SUV is bold and aggressive. Plus, its 6.2-liter V8 engine delivers one imposing exhaust note.

2013 Cadillac Escalade

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Allen Iverson is one of the best pure scorers the NBA has ever seen. Over his 14-year playing career, the legendary shooter made more than $100 million. While he purchased many cars with that money, this is the one that only he drives. A few years ago, Iverson rewarded himself with this white Bentley Continental GT for his birthday. He has been seen more recently behind the wheel of a $2 million Bugatti.

2012 Bentley Continental GT

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The technical-foul king is back. For what, you ask? He says to bring old-school basketball back to the NBA. While Wallace's play is sometimes barbarous, his cars are always highbrow. In 2006, the power forward was driving around Detroit in a Maybach 57 with Cote d'Azur blue paint and a gray suede interior. It was loaded with options such as TVs, satellite radio, a refrigerator and heated and cooled seats. Now Wallace owns a S500. Very civilized.

2013 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

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Brooklyn Nets point guard Deron Williams is a master at maneuvering past defenders to drive to the hoop — and moving fast while doing it. At least one of his vehicles, a Mercedes-Benz G-Class — aka the G-Wagen — is just as adept at maneuvering around almost anything that gets in its way. But it's more capable cruising through the city than performing a highway fast break like, say, a Ferrari.

2013 Mercedes-Benz G-Class

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Michael Beasley has been on a fast track ever since he left college as the No. 2 pick in the 2008 NBA draft after only one year at Kansas State University. The then-20-year-old spent some of his signing bonus with the Miami Heat to buy a Bentley Continental Flying Spur that he outfitted with 22-inch wheels. Last July he signed with the Phoenix Suns for three years and $18 million — meaning he can still buy any car he wants.

2012 Bentley Continental Flying Spur

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For more information on the vehicles in this slideshow, click the links below:

-Bentley Continental GT
-BMW M5
-Land Rover Range Rover Sport
-Ferrari F430
-Ferrari 599 GTB
-Cadillac Escalade
-Mercedes-Benz S-Class
-Mercedes-Benz G-Class
-Bentley Continental Flying Spur

Doug Newcomb has been writing about automotive-related topics since 1988. His work has appeared in Consumers Digest, Road & Track, Rolling Stone, Men's Journal and many other publications. His book, Car Audio for Dummies, is available from Wiley Publishing.