Pickleball continues to make waves in the US as more and more people become hooked on the game. Since Major League Pickleball (MLP) was established a year ago, it has attracted numerous investors, and the latest to jump on board is no other than NBA superstar Lebron James.
NBA Stars Invest in Pickleball
The Lakers power forward, his business partner Maverick Carter, and fellow NBA stars Kevin Love and Draymond Green are part of an ownership group announced this week by the MLP. The surge in popularity of pickleball over the past two years led to the establishment of the MLP in 2021. The league began with 12 teams, each composed of four players. That will soon grow to 16 teams.
Fastest-Growing Sport in the US
Since then, pickleball has been considered America’s fastest-growing sport, attracting plenty of investors and sports fans throughout the country. Even popular celebrities are getting hooked on the sport, including the Kardashians and Kevin Durant. Pickleball combines many elements of badminton, Ping-Pong, and tennis, and can be played indoors or outdoors.
At the moment, a total of 12 teams with four players each are competing in the MLP. The 2022 season finale will run from October 14-16 in Columbus, Ohio. The winning team will walk away with $100,000.
