Kicking off its Kenbassadors program, LeBron James has become the first male athlete to be personified in a Ken doll.
“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. 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.” (LeBron James)
Released yesterday, the LeBron James Ken doll is fashionably clad in tailored plaid pants and a custom LJ varsity jacket which includes a “We are Family” patch (a tribute to the LeBron James Family Foundation), a 23 patch (representing his jersey number) and an Ohio patch (his home state). Described by Mr. James as “totally dope”, beneath the large lettered name LeBron, we find “Just a kid from Akron” embroidered on the back of his jacket. LeBron is wearing a black cap, a white t-shirt with “We are Family” printed on the front, Nike Terminator High sneakers, Beats headphones, sunglasses, a cross-body sling bag, a gold watch and a green “I Promise” band. The doll is 13” tall, instead of the usual 12” Ken doll height, reflecting (to some degree) James’ true 6’9” stature.
The LeBron James Ken doll is an important part of Mattel’s push to diversify its dolls to reflect a broader range of careers, body types and backgrounds. The NBA’s all time leading scorer, LeBron James, with 4 NBA titles and 2 Olympic gold medals, is breaking new ground by joining Mattel’s Barbie family with a special new title: “Kenbassador”.
"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.” (LeBron James)
Introduced in 1961, 2 years after the release of Barbie, Ken is named after the son of Barbie creator/inventor Ruth Handler. Likewise, Barbie was named after her daughter (Barbara).
For every Ken doll that is sold, 8-10 Barbie dolls are sold. Will the LeBron James Ken doll change this ratio? That’s a tough mountain to climb, as 81% of girls frequently play with dolls compared to only 24% of boys. Then and again, it is never too late to offer a more accomplished, superstar Ken doll to the marketplace which could, in turn, draw a wider range of children, both boys and girls, to play with a male doll.
Unfortunately, the $75 price tag will not attract those who need to be inspired the most, and recently imposed tariffs may reap havoc on the already sky-high price. I see the LeBron James Ken doll becoming an adult collector’s item, rather than a doll intended for children in need of role models. That’s a missed opportunity, Mattel. Yes, I know – adult collectors are probably a more lucrative market for your shareholders, but what about the kids?
Update: As of the wee hours of the morning on Monday when it went on sale, the LeBron James Ken doll was already sold out at Mattel Creations. If marketplaces like ebay had a heart, they would prevent resellers from making a profit on these dolls, or it would match the profit and give it to the LeBron James' We Are Family Foundation. What a f***ed up world we live in.
Now that you’ve read today’s blog, why not take what you’ve learned and play today’s matching quiz on your Quizefy app? Many of the answers can be found right here. We publish an on-trend, hint-filled blog at www.quizefy.com every Tuesday, along with a matching quiz in your Quizefy app. We think they’re a great combination and a great way to Strut Your Smart.