Pickleball is one of Americaâs fastest-growing sports and itâs got its latest major backer in Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.
No, the sport doesnât 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 itâs 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 youâve just found your next favourite sport.
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It certainly piqued the interest of Cuban who has been the owner of the NBAâs Mavericks since 2000.
And heâs only gone and bought his own pickleball team.
The Professional Pickleball Association, yes thereâs an official association, launched its own VIBE Pickleball league.
It will kick off in 2023 and initially feature six rosters with several of the sportâs 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.
Theyâll have the ability to add and trade players throughout the season with the leagueâs consent.
Cuban said: âJust like millions of other Americans, Iâve been following pickleball over the past few years, and I couldnât pass up the chance to invest in the fastest-growing game in the country.
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âVIBE presents an unparalleled opportunity to launch a new pro league that will feature the best-of-the-best in a highly competitive setting. I canât wait to be a part of it.â
Meanwhile, PPA Tour Commissioner and CEO Connor Pardoe said: âThe VIBE Pickleball League is going to be a must-watch as it will showcase the worldâs best pickleball in an exciting team format.
âWith our top players, renowned ownership group and top-tier broadcasting partners, the league will reimagine how people enjoy and experience team pickleball.â
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:Â US Sports