Pickleball is one of America’s fastest-growing sports and it’s got its latest major backer in Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.
No, the sport doesn’t involve swatting a pickle about but instead combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong.
The manner of play resembles tennis, but it is played on a court the size of a doubles badminton court.
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The ball is significantly less bouncy than a tennis ball, resulting in a unique pacing to the game.
And while you may have never heard of pickleball before it’s actually been around since 1965 and was adopted as the official state sport of Washington earlier this year.
Its rise in popularity is believed to be because of how easy the sport is to pick up and play for anyone - so perhaps you’ve just found your next favourite sport.
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It certainly piqued the interest of Cuban who has been the owner of the NBA’s Mavericks since 2000.
And he’s only gone and bought his own pickleball team.
The Professional Pickleball Association, yes there’s an official association, launched its own VIBE Pickleball league.
It will kick off in 2023 and initially feature six rosters with several of the sport’s top players involved.
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Cuban and five other team owners will select their teams in a live draft in Las Vegas in December, according to Front Office Sports.
They’ll have the ability to add and trade players throughout the season with the league’s consent.
Cuban said: “Just like millions of other Americans, I’ve been following pickleball over the past few years, and I couldn’t pass up the chance to invest in the fastest-growing game in the country.
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“VIBE presents an unparalleled opportunity to launch a new pro league that will feature the best-of-the-best in a highly competitive setting. I can’t wait to be a part of it.”
Meanwhile, PPA Tour Commissioner and CEO Connor Pardoe said: “The VIBE Pickleball League is going to be a must-watch as it will showcase the world’s best pickleball in an exciting team format.
“With our top players, renowned ownership group and top-tier broadcasting partners, the league will reimagine how people enjoy and experience team pickleball.”
Back in October, NBA legend Dirk Nowitzki hosted a pickleball celebrity tournament.
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The sport is certainly surging up so better get around it in time for the VIBE Pickleball league to kick off.
Topics: US Sports
Jayden Collins