Mattel, Inc. introduced at present that Barbie® is introducing a doll within the likeness of basketball legend, writer, activist and philanthropist LeBron James. Barbie is teaming up with the LeBron James Household Basis to launch the primary Ken® doll of knowledgeable athlete, LeBron James, to acknowledge his constructive impression on tradition, fashion, and group.
Barbie the Film spurred a world cultural phenomenon for the Barbie model, recontextualizing the Barbie universe, together with Ken. Immediately, adults are the fastest-growing shopper section of the toy trade. Barbie has lengthy been catering to grownup collectors, and now the model is bringing Ken to followers in an sudden manner. Prematurely of the enduring character’s sixty fifth anniversary in 2026, the model is happy to honor Kenbassadors™ who’re inspiring and contributing to a greater world for all.
“Ken is Barbie’s longtime finest pal and supporter,” stated Krista Berger, Senior Vice President of Barbie and World Head of Dolls, Mattel. “We’re excited to deliver followers a brand new presentation of Ken that celebrates LeBron as a task mannequin, his icon standing, lasting impression on tradition, and dedication to setting a constructive instance for the subsequent technology to succeed in their limitless potential.”
“As a younger child, I used to be lucky to have function fashions who not solely impressed me but in addition confirmed me what’s potential via onerous work and dedication,” stated LeBron James. “Now, as an grownup, I perceive how important it’s for younger individuals to have constructive figures to look as much as. That’s why partnering with Barbie to launch the LeBron James Kenbassadors doll is such an honor. It’s a chance to acknowledge the highly effective impression of function fashions who instill confidence, encourage desires, and present youngsters that they, too, can obtain greatness.”
Whereas LeBron James is acknowledged for his groundbreaking contributions on the basketball court docket, he’s additionally famend for being a cultural curator and trendsetter. The LeBron James doll not solely captures his easy fashion, but in addition his top, standing one inch taller than the usual Ken doll in customized, bigger packaging. James labored intently with the Barbie crew to personalize his doll’s outfit, clad in a customized varsity jacket over the LeBron James Household Basis’s signature We Are Household t-shirt, Nike Terminator Excessive sneakers, Beats headphones, sun shades, a fanny pack, a watch and his perennial ‘I Promise’ band. The patches on his varsity jacket reference milestones all through his life, together with a We Are Household patch as a tribute to the LeBron James Household Basis, a 23 patch representing his iconic jersey quantity, and an Ohio patch nodding to his hometown.
Barbie is proud to accomplice with the LeBron James Household Basis, which James based to additional his mission to uplift his local people in Akron, Ohio, by offering tangible assist to households via training, housing, healthcare, and job coaching. These life-changing sources, mixed with the Basis’s “We Are Household” philosophy, work to redefine what a household and group seem like. Barbie is making a donation to the LeBron James Household Basis to assist encourage the limitless potential of each little one and make investments extra sources to create generational change for the youngsters and households of James’ hometown.
“For the LeBron James Household Basis and the households we serve, that is a lot greater than a doll. It represents the truth {that a} child from anyplace could make a distinction,” stated Michele Campbell, Govt Director of the LeBron James Household Basis. “We’re extremely honored to accomplice with Barbie to proceed inspiring the subsequent technology and to have a good time LeBron’s unwavering dedication to his group by giving again via the LeBron James Kenbassadors doll.”
In a dedication to advancing early childhood literacy—a trigger near James’ coronary heart—Mattel will donate a replica of his kids’s e book, I Am Extra Than, to Save the Youngsters for each Barbie Signature LeBron James Kenbassador doll bought at Goal shops and Goal.com between April 14 and 19, 2025, as much as 5,000 copies. Save the Youngsters and the Mattel Youngsters’s Basis have been companions for over 20 years. This donation celebrates Mattel’s longstanding assist to the worldwide humanitarian group’s efforts to assist kids within the U.S and world wide have a wholesome begin in life, the chance to be taught and safety from hurt.
The UNDEFEATED retailer on La Brea in Los Angeles, CA, is internet hosting a US-exclusive drop on Saturday, April twelfth. A restricted advance amount of the doll, together with a couple of signed by LeBron James, will probably be accessible for buy forward of the official drop on April 14th. Doorways open at 11:00 AM PT on April twelfth.
