James gets a new look as Barbie unveils a doll for the Lakers star in the Kenbassadors line🤴🏾🤎

The Los Angeles Lakers' star LeBron James will be the first professional athlete to have a Ken doll made in his image.

 The first of Mattel's Kenbassadors, the doll was unveiled on Wednesday as someone "inspiring and contributing to a better world for all."

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 "LeBron James is renowned for being a cultural curator and trendsetter, in addition to his groundbreaking contributions on the basketball court," Mattel stated.

In 2026, the toy industry will celebrate Barbie's 65th anniversary by paying tribute to Kenbassadors.  Since her 1959 debut, the doll has been a symbol of popular culture, and with each new job, friend, home, television program, and movie, her role in children's play has only increased.

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 Although Mattel asserts that Barbie has historically catered to collectors, the 2023 "Barbie" film is recognized for having catapulted the brand into the adult stratosphere.  Additionally, it thrust Ken into the public eye, and since adults are the toy industry's fastest-growing customer category, Mattel said that consumers wanted more.

A BIT MORE THAN A DOLL

 According to Mattel, James was selected as a Kenbassador because of "his positive impact on culture, style, and community." James is a "basketball legend, author, activist, and philanthropist."

 According to Krista Berger, Mattel's senior vice president of Barbie and worldwide head of dolls, "Ken has been Barbie's best friend and supporter for a long time."  "We are thrilled to introduce to fans a brand-new Ken presentation that honors LeBron as a role model, his iconic status, his enduring cultural influence, and his commitment to leading by example so that the next generation can realize their boundless potential."

 Being a Kenbassador doll is an honor, James stated in a statement.