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New York Times
09-04-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
LeBron James joins Barbie universe as first pro athlete Ken doll
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. Advertisement 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)
Forbes
09-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Mattel Creating Celebrity Friends For Ken, Starting With LeBron James
LeBron James has won NBA championships, Olympic Gold Medals, and been named one of the most influential people in the world by Time magazine. Now he has been chosen for a new, first-of-a-kind, honor - Kenbassador. Mattel is announcing today that James is the first celebrity doll to be released in a new series of collectibles intended to celebrate the 65th birthday of the Ken doll. The toy manufacturer is planning to produce a number of Kenbassadors - likenesses of male celebrities who, as Mattel describes it 'are inspiring and contributing to a better world for all.' The Ken doll first was released in 1961, making Ken two years younger than his on-and-off-and-on girlfriend Barbie. While Mattel has always made a big deal out of Barbie's birthdays, Ken's didn't get as much attention. But the Barbie movie phenomenon greatly boosted Ken's popularity, his fashion credentials, and his status as a collectible. 'As we gear up for a year of Ken's 65th there will be a lot of different ways to celebrate Ken and the Barbie brand as a whole,' Krista Berger, senior vice president of Barbie and Global Head of Dolls at Mattel, said in an interview. Mattel isn't saying who the other Kenbassadors will be, or when their dolls will be released, but Berger said the Kenbassador releases could extend beyond Ken's birthday year if they prove to be popular. 'Barbie is a brand that is always listening to its fans, so certainly, if they embrace it they way we think they will, this is something that could go on for awhile,' she said. The LeBron doll will sell for $75 and be available in Target stores, and online at Target, Amazon, Walmart, and Mattel Creations starting April 14, following a limited advance drop of the dolls, including some signed by James, on April 12 at the Undefeated sneaker and sportswear store in Los Angeles. According to Mattel, James was closely involved in personalizing the doll's outfit and accessories. The doll is dressed in a custom varsity jacket, a LeBron James Family Foundation We are Family t-shirt, and Nike Terminator High sneakers, with accessories including Beats headphones, sunglasses, a fanny pack, a gold watch, and James' 'I Promise' wristband. The patches on the varsity jacket represent James' jersey number, his foundation, and his Akron, Ohio hometown. The LeBron doll has another standout feature - it is one inch taller than the standard Ken doll model, requiring custom, larger packaging. Berger said she expects the doll to be a hit with both LeBron fans and Barbie collectors. 'There are aspects to of this doll that collectors who might not be as familiar with LeBron are going to want and love, because the detail is there,' Berger said. 'But I think LeBron fans are absolutely going to love it because it really does pay homage to who he is and his outsize contributions to culture and style and community while bringing a lot of his personality to life in the doll,' she said. James, in a statement released by Mattel, said he signed on to be a Kenbassador because he believes it is important for children to have positive role models. '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. '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,' James said. '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.' For future Kenbassadors, Mattel is looking for role models are aren't just superstars in their fields, but who, like LeBron, are someone who 'has had an impact on community, on culture, is a style icon - those are all things that make you a natural fit with the Barbie and Ken brands,' Berger said. 'What we're really looking for are those people who are contributing to really making a better world for all - that idea of inspiring limitless possibilities.' Convincing someone - even superstars like LeBron James - to become a Kenbassador isn't a hard sell, Berger said. 'I think a call from the Barbie brand is always an honor, if I do say so myself, particularly coming off the heels of the Barbie movie, which really did recontextualize the brand for a whole new generation of fans,' she said. 'As the number one doll brand in the world, as the most diverse doll line in the world, and with Barbie as a role model, being called from Barbie and being invited to play in her world is something that people see as an honor.'
