LeBron James has made a lot of history in his 22 years in the NBA with a never-ending list of achievements. And, now, the four-time NBA champion can add "Kenbassador" to his resume.
Barbie teamed up with the Los Angeles Lakers star and his LeBron James Family Foundation for Mattel's new campaign to create a doll of James. He is the first doll announced for the "Kenbassador" series from the brand, which looks to honor men "who inspire and contribute to a better world for all."
“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,” James said. “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.”
James's Barbie doll shares a close resemblance to the NBA star—it's even one inch taller than the average Ken doll—and that might be partially due to James working alongside the company to create the doll. He helped personalize the doll's outfit, which includes James wearing a varsity jacket with "LJ" on the front, an Ohio patch and a crown patch on one sleeve, the number 23 on the other sleeve, and his name "LeBron" in big letters on the back with the message "Just a kid from Akron." James is wearing a shirt that says "We Are Family" as a tribute to the LeBron James Family Foundation.
Additionally, James's doll is sporting some of the player's brand deals including Nike Dunk Hi Retro shoes, Beats headphones and James's signature watch on one wrist and an "I Promise" band to pay homage to his I Promise School on the other. The doll is also wearing sunglasses and has a fanny pack.
For the first 5,000 dolls sold at Target in-person or online from April 14 to 19, Mattel will donate a copy of James's I Am More Than book to Save the Children. It's a cause "close to James's heart."
The James doll will be available for fans to purchase on Monday, April 14 for the price of $75 either in-person at select Target stores or online at Target, Amazon, Walmart and Mattel Creations.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Barbie Announces the Creation of LeBron James's Own Doll.
