Sneaker News In honor of the 45th Anniversary of the first-ever black Barbie doll, Mattel has partnered with key figures in the black community to duly honor this milestone in representation in the toy industry. The selected individuals to partake in this unique collection are Alicia Keyes, Naomi Osaka, and Issa Rae; joining this group of influential women is LeBron James, the newest “Kenbassador” to be immortalized by the iconic doll maker and the first pro athlete to receive this commemorative treatment.
LeBron’s accomplishments as a basketball player are well documented, but he’s placed significant efforts towards inspiring positive change in the community through his The LeBron James Family Foundation. From the opening of the I PROMISE school to the various community-oriented centers to housing initiatives, LeBron’s accolades are well-deserved.
Barbie’s LeBron Ken Doll trades in the yellow and purple uniform for a casual outfit that includes a royal blue/white varsity jacket with his initials on his chest, white/black houndstooth-patterned slacks, and a pair of Nike Terminator Highs. The shoes feature the same scribblings of the names of his children that are seen on his actual in-game footwear. Other accessories include Beats by Dre headphones, what appears to be an Audemars Piguet watch in gold, and a hip pack worn across his chest.
The LeBron Ken doll will undoubtedly be a collectors item once it releases, but UNDEFEATED is adding to the frenzy by dropping a limited run of units autographed by King James himself on April 12th. UNDEFEATED confirms that they will be dropping the LeBron Barbie dolls first-come first-serve, and that the autographed ones are random. It’s not clear how many they’ll be releasing, but given the FCFS nature, we can speculate they’ll have around 300, and that roughly 15 customers will walk away with the signed box.
Head to UNDEFEATED La Brea this April 12th, 2025 from 11am-3pm PST to be one of the first to not only cop the doll, but to secure an autographed version.
A wider release at consumer stores and Mattel is scheduled for April 14th ($75).
