‘Does it come with a little Bronny?’: Jake and Spike reacts to the newest ‘kenbassador’ LeBron James
Apr 12, 2025, 5:00 AM | Updated: 6:39 am
LeBron James became first professional male athlete to be honored as a Ken doll. (Photo courtesy of promotional materials from Mattel)
(Photo courtesy of promotional materials from Mattel)
LeBron James, the face of the NBA for arguably the last 10-plus years, has become the first professional male athlete to be honored as a Ken doll.
“LeBron James is the first ‘kenbassador.’ It’s a new Lebron James. LJ on his jacket. It’s a beautiful little collector piece,” Spike O’Neill, co-host of “The Jake and Spike Show” on KIRO Newsradio, said. “LeBron James is going to be forever enshrined in plastic to become a collector’s item, a trophy, a plaything. Does it come with a little Bronny?”
The doll, featuring the four-time champion in his pre-game fashion instead of basketball gear, is even an inch taller than the standard Ken doll to symbolize the athlete’s 6-foot, 9-inch height.
“It’s going to move a whole bunch of units immediately for the collectors group, who are not going to take it out of the packaging and they’re going to hide it away in a closet somewhere and put it on eBay in a year or two,” KIRO Newsradio fill-in host Mike Lewis said. “It’s not actually ever going to be played with as a toy because every toy now just seems to be a collector’s item. It doesn’t really seem to be a toy anymore. However, it’s going to be interesting to see if this thing does sell.”
Global trade war impacting Mattel products
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Approximately 40% of Mattel’s production is based in China, which is currently in the middle of a trade war with the U.S. over the Trump administration’s tariff strategy. Earlier this week, Trump announced that tariffs on goods from China would increase to 125% after China retaliated by imposing tariffs of 84% on U.S. imports. Trump also announced a 90-day pause for countries hit by higher U.S. tariffs.
“I’ve been a collector of sports memorabilia my whole life, music memorabilia too. I’d love a few dolls. I’d love a few action figures of my heroes,” O’Neill added. “Born and raised in Baltimore, I’d love a Cal Ripken action figure or a Ken doll. I would love a Ken Griffey Jr. Ken doll.”
While LeBron is the first male athlete to receive his own Ken doll, Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka, and Seattle’s Megan Rapinoe have previously been enshrined as Barbie dolls.
“Obviously, you’re going to have WNBA players as well, right?” Lewis asked. “I mean, I would assume that that’s going to be on the horizon.”
Listen to the full conversation here:
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