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LeBron James joins Barbie universe as first pro athlete Ken doll

LeBron James joins Barbie universe as first pro athlete Ken doll

New York Times09-04-2025

LeBron James is making a fashionable entrance into the world of Barbie.
On Wednesday, Mattel, the makers of Barbie, in collaboration with the LeBron James Family Foundation, announced that the Los Angeles Lakers star will be the first professional athlete to have a Ken doll released in his likeness.
'We are excited to bring fans a new presentation of Ken that celebrates LeBron as a role model, his icon status, lasting impact on culture, and dedication to setting a positive example for the next generation to reach their limitless potential,' Krista Berger, Senior Vice President of Barbie and Global Head of Dolls at Mattel said in a press statement.
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Unlike previous James action figures from McFarlane Toys and Starting Lineup that depict him in an NBA uniform, the first NBA Ken doll will feature the future Hall of Famer in an adjustable, multi-accessory outfit worthy of a pre-game entrance to the locker room.
Barbie set out for their James doll to capture his fashion sense off the court and his height on the court. The James doll will be one inch taller than the standard Ken doll. James collaborated with designers at Barbie to coordinate his Ken dolls look, which includes a blue and white 'LJ' varsity jacket (patches on the jacket represent his original No. 23 and his Ohio roots), a black LeBron James Family Foundation 'We Are Family' T-shirt, sunglasses, Beats headphones, matching blue and white Nike Terminator High sneakers, a fanny pack, a watch and his well-known 'I promise' wristband.
'As a young kid, I was fortunate to have role models who not only inspired me but also showed me what's possible through hard work and dedication,' James said in Mattel's press release. 'Now, as an adult, I understand how vital it is for young people to have positive figures to look up to. That's why partnering with Barbie to release the LeBron James Kenbassadors doll is such an honor. It's an opportunity to recognize the powerful impact of role models who instill confidence, inspire dreams, and show kids that they, too, can achieve greatness.'
In a video shared by Mattel showing James' first reaction to the doll, he expressed his approval of the finished product, but joked, 'He (the doll) might need to do a little lifting, legs look a little skinny — a little frail, little fella. But nah, that's dope.'
The Barbie brand has a long history of catering to adults just as much as children, and with adults now being the fastest-growing groups of consumers in the toy industry, according to Mattel, the James Ken doll, with a retail price tag of $75, seems to be designed with that type of collector in mind.
James' 'Kenbassador' doll will be available at Target, Amazon, Walmart and Mattel Creations, beginning April 14 at 12 a.m. Eastern.
The Athletic maintains full editorial independence in all our coverage. When you click or make purchases through our links, we may earn a commission.
(Photos: Mattel)

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Ikano Centres and Mattel Invites Families to 'Play Without Limits' This School Holiday
Ikano Centres and Mattel Invites Families to 'Play Without Limits' This School Holiday

Yahoo

time3 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Ikano Centres and Mattel Invites Families to 'Play Without Limits' This School Holiday

Klippa Shopping Centre, Toppen Shopping Centre, and IPC Shopping Centre brings play to life through a variety of immersive and hands-on experiences tailored for children and families KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, June 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- This mid-year school holiday, Ikano Centres and Mattel invites Malaysians to embark on a journey of imagination, creativity, and excitement with the Play Without Limits: A Mattel Adventure cross-centre family activation. Following its debut at Klippa Shopping Centre from 17 to 25 May, the fun will continue across the Southern and Central region at Toppen Shopping Centre from 31 May to 15 June and IPC Shopping Centre from 5 to 15 June, welcoming families with children to explore various activities, workshops, and challenges with iconic Mattel brands such as Barbie, Hot Wheels, UNO, and Scrabble. School holidays are a time that children look forward to the most. It is a time where they get a break from their routines, and have the chance to explore, imagine, and have fun. It is also a perfect opportunity for families to slow down and create meaningful memories together. Low Kiu Fung, Head of Brand Experience and Communications, Ikano Centres said, "At Ikano Centres, we believe in going beyond transactional shopping to create vibrant destinations that inspire and connect communities. We are excited to partner with Mattel to bring the 'Play Without Limits: A Mattel Adventure' to live across our shopping centres in Malaysia, offering a space where families can build meaningful memories and explore the wonder of childhood. Through this partnership, we are proud to spark creativity, imagination, and joy for our communities under one roof." "2025 marks 80 years of Mattel redefining play through creativity, innovation, and cultural relevance. As we evolve into a global leader at the intersection of toys and family entertainment, strategic partnerships with brands that share the same value becomes more valuable than ever. At Mattel, we believe in the power of play to inspire, educate the kids, and bring families closer together. Our partnership with Ikano Centres brings this vision to life by transforming everyday spaces into dynamic destinations where children can imagine limitless possibilities with our beloved brands. Together, we are committed to creating joyful, enriching experiences that align with our global mission to empower the next generation through purposeful play." said Murat Ariksoy, General Manager, Mattel South Asia. Play Without Limits: A Mattel Adventure at Toppen Shopping Centre At Toppen Shopping Centre, families can look forward to a school holiday celebration filled with creativity, discovery, and endless fun from 31 May to 15 June. Throughout this campaign period, visitors can dive into a series of thrilling activities, from racing cars at the Hot Wheels Loop Challenge and digital action in the Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged racing video game challenge, to magical moments at the Barbie Tea Party and the inspiring Barbie 'You Can Be Anything' Talent Show where young talents can showcase their Dream Career line with Barbie's thematic this year, 'Limitless Possibilities'. Play Without Limits: A Mattel Adventure at IPC Shopping Centre From 5 to 15 June 2025, IPC Shopping Centre will buzz with hands-on play and creativity with exciting workshops, games, and themed activities. Highlights include the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Challenge and Hot Wheels Loop Challenge where visitors can race their favourite vehicles on the Hot Wheel tracks; 'Barbie Accessorise Yourself' Workshop where children can design their own accessories; Barbie Tea Party; and Barbie 'You can be Anything' Fashion Show Competition where aspiring young fashionistas can dress up and walk the runway in their favourite look. To make the experience even more memorable, visitors can bring home a piece of adventure through exclusive Mattel gift-with-purchase redemptions. From collectible Hot Wheels Monster Trucks 1:70 vehicles or Hot Wheels Monster Trucks 2-pack Asst to other merchandises such as Hot Wheels Monster Trucks lunch bags, Barbie colouring sets, and limited-edition UNO pouches, these specially curated items serve as the perfect keepsakes for children and the child at heart. Adding to the excitement, the Play Without Limits: A Mattel Adventure activation will also be hosting the 5th Scrabble Tournament for Beginners 2025, held in collaboration with the Malaysian Scrabble Association. Regional qualifying rounds will take place at each participating Ikano Centre, with top players earning a spot in the Scrabble Championship - National Finals at IPC Shopping Centre this July. Play Without Limits: A Mattel Adventure is more than just a holiday event, it is a celebration of imagination, learning, and community. Through this exciting collaboration, Ikano Centres and Mattel are turning school holidays into meaningful moments for families across Malaysia. Whether you are racing cars, building dreams, or making new memories, the adventure is just getting started. For more information about the Play Without Limits: A Mattel Adventure, visit Klippa Shopping Centre on Facebook or Instagram; Toppen Shopping Centre at its website, Facebook, or Instagram; IPC Shopping Centre at its website, Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok or Mattel's Official Facebook page. ABOUT IKANO CENTRES Our portfolio of shopping centres are the hearts and hubs of our communities, creating a better everyday life for the 100 million visitors who visit us every year. Together with our IKEA stores, we create meeting places for friends and families to have a safe and fun day out. We also develop land and invest in residential, office and other types of real estate to create vibrant destinations where people can live, work and play. With strong ambitions to grow our portfolio, we currently operate five meeting places in Malaysia and Thailand. These include IPC and MyTOWN in Kuala Lumpur, Toppen in Johor Bahru, the first phase of Klippa in Batu Kawan, and Megabangna in Bangkok. We are part of Ikano Retail, one of 12 IKEA franchisees and the only one owned by the family of Ingvar Kamprad, who founded IKEA in 1943. To learn more, visit our Ikano Centres website or LinkedIn page. ABOUT HOT WHEELS® Hot Wheels cars revolutionized boys' toys in 1968 with an original line of super-fast, customized cars built for speed, power, performance and attitude. Now, more than 55 years later, Hot Wheels is a global lifestyle brand that represents the coolest cars imaginable in scales from miniature to full-size. Hot Wheels cars are also popular collectibles for adults and each year, introduces a new line-up of innovative vehicles, track sets and playsets. ABOUT BARBIE™ Barbie was founded in 1959 by Ruth Handler, a mother and visionary entrepreneur, whose inspiration for Barbie came from watching her daughter project her dreams and aspirations onto paper dolls. Recognizing a gap in the market, which only offered baby dolls for girls to imagine themselves as caregivers, Ruth invented the fashion doll category with a three-dimensional doll that girls could use to imagine their future selves. Ruth's philosophy behind Barbie was that through the doll a little girl could be anything she wanted to be and that she has choices. Over the brand's 60 years, Barbie has empowered girls to imagine themselves in aspirational roles from a princess to president. ABOUT MATTEL Mattel is a leading global toy company and owner of one of the strongest catalogs of children's and family entertainment franchises in the world. We create innovative products and experiences that inspire, entertain, and develop children through play. We engage consumers through our portfolio of iconic brands, including Barbie®, Hot Wheels®, Fisher-Price®, American Girl®, Thomas & Friends®, UNO®, Masters of the Universe®, Monster High® and MEGA®, as well as other popular intellectual properties that we own or license in partnership with global entertainment companies. Our offerings include film and television content, gaming and digital experiences, music, and live events. We operate in 35 locations and our products are available in more than 150 countries in collaboration with the world's leading retail and ecommerce companies. Since its founding in 1945, Mattel is proud to be a trusted partner in empowering children to explore the wonder of childhood and reach their full potential. Visit us online at View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE IKANO group

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