LeBron James is the First Male Athlete to Have His Own Barbie Doll Called ‘Kenbassador’

LeBron James is no stranger to breaking NBA records, but this time, he’s making history for a completely unexpected reason.

The legendary NBA player, a four-time champion and the top scorer in league history, is partnering with Mattel, the company known for the iconic Barbie brand, to create the first doll based on a male professional athlete.

LeBron James himself confirmed the collaboration with the renowned toy brand for various reasons, primarily to continue motivating individuals worldwide to pursue their aspirations and achieve success through perseverance and hard work.

Mattel, as stated in a press release, saw a significant increase in its brand’s appeal after the premiere of the 2023 film “Barbie,” featuring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling. This surge not only boosted the popularity of the Barbie doll but also of Ken, her male counterpart.

“Ken is Barbie’s longtime best friend and supporter,” said Krista Berger, Senior Vice President of Barbie. “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.”

LeBron’s official Ken doll will launch at select Target stores, Amazon, Walmart, and Mattel Creations on April 14, 2025, at 12:00 AM EST. Although it costs a whopping $75, it could be money well spent.

The athlete’s “Kenbassador” doll resembles the 6’9″ baller to a tee. It stands one inch taller than the standard Ken doll and comes in custom, larger packaging. The Los Angeles Lakers star also worked closely with the Barbie design team, ensuring their creation matched his aesthetic off of the court, too.

For the outfit, the LeBron Ken doll will wear a custom varsity jacket over the LeBron James Family Foundation’s signature “We Are Family” t-shirt. The toy will also include a pair of Nike sneakers, sunglasses, a fanny pack, and black Beats by Dre headphones.

“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,” LeBron said about his new venture.

“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.” 

After the official Barbie Instagram account shared the news, fans began reacting to the announcement, sharing their excitement about the iconic collaboration.

Nike wrote, “Hi LeBarbie,” while the official LeBron James Foundation posted, “He is kenough.”

A third user said the toy was the “perfect gift for the Bronsexual in your life,” before a fourth stated, “Ken just got upgraded to King.”

In addition to making history with Barbie, LeBron had another historic night to celebrate at the start of this year’s NBA season.

After his son, Bronny James, was drafted by the Lakers, they became the first father-son duo to play in the league at the same time and on the same team.