LeBron James, one of the most legendary figures in modern sports, has made history yet again—this time, not on the court, but in the toy aisle.
Toy giant Mattel has revealed the release of a new Barbie doll modeled after the NBA star, making James the first professional male athlete ever to be turned into a Ken doll.
“We are excited to bring fans a new presentation of Ken,” said Krista Berger, Mattel’s senior vice president of Barbie. She described the doll as a celebration of “LeBron as a role model,” emphasizing his power to transcend sports and culture while setting a “positive example for the next generation.”
The collectible figure features James styled in his signature pre-game fashion. Standing an inch taller than the standard Ken doll to reflect James’ real-life height of 6ft 9in, it mirrors the athlete’s towering presence both on and off the court.
Dressed for Impact
Rather than a basketball uniform, the LeBron Ken doll sports a stylish varsity jacket emblazoned with the initials “LJ.” The jacket also features thoughtful details: an Ohio patch and a crown on one sleeve, and his iconic number 23 on the other. The back reads “LeBron” along with the phrase “Just a kid from Akron,” a tribute to his hometown in Ohio.
Beneath the jacket, the doll wears a shirt printed with “We Are Family,” nodding to the community-driven mission of the LeBron James Family Foundation. Accessories include a basketball, headphones, and sneakers—capturing the essence of both the athlete and the philanthropist.
In a promotional video released by Mattel, James reacts to seeing the doll for the first time:
“Oh, he dope!” he exclaims. “That’s so cool!”
Inspecting the doll’s accessories, he jokes: “Might have to do a little lifting, legs are looking skinny.”
A Ken Doll Milestone
This new release marks a milestone for the 65-year-old Barbie brand. In recent years, Mattel has made a significant push to diversify its product line, offering dolls that better reflect a range of careers, body types, ethnicities, and backgrounds.
While female athletes like Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka, and Megan Rapinoe have previously been honoured with Barbie dolls, LeBron James is the first male sports star—and the first man outside the entertainment industry—to be immortalized as a Ken doll.
Even with four NBA championships, two Olympic gold medals, and the NBA’s all-time scoring record under his belt, James says his latest title as “Kenbassador” holds special meaning.
“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.”
Economic Tensions Behind the Scenes
The doll’s debut also arrives at a challenging time for Mattel, as the company navigates economic pressure due to escalating trade tensions between the US and China.
Roughly 40% of Mattel’s production is based in China. In a recent announcement, President Donald Trump declared a steep increase in tariffs on Chinese goods—raising them to 125%. He accused China of showing a “lack of respect” after Beijing responded with its own 84% tariff on US imports.
Alongside this, Trump issued a 90-day pause for countries affected by the tariff hikes and introduced a universal “lowered reciprocal tariff of 10%” as negotiations continue with around 60 nations.
Consumer and business groups in the US have warned that such measures could strain global supply chains and result in higher consumer prices. Mattel has acknowledged it may need to increase prices and adjust its supply chain in response.
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