Major League Pickleball Announces Star-Studded Team Ownership Groups
Major League Pickleball (MLP) has made some exciting new additions to their team ownership groups for the 2023 Season One schedule.
The franchise has announced social media influencers and star pro athletes, including Dude Perfect, Jayson Tatum, Haley Jones, Josh Allen, Jewell Loyd, Zach LaVine, and World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen.
Dude Perfect, which consists of former Texas A&M University roommates Tyler "Beard” Toney, twins Cory and Coby Cotton, Garrett "Purple Hoser" Hilbert, and Cody "Tall Guy" Jones, has over 100 million cross-platform social media followers. Their family-friendly sports trickshot videos and comedy content appeal to a young core demographic. They have collaborated with a variety of top-tier pro athletes.
Jones, Tatum, and Allen are now part of the Los Angeles Mad Drops ownership group, which also features Super Bowl Champion Drew Brees. Jones, who was recently drafted by the Atlanta Dream in the 2023 WNBA Draft, expressed her excitement, saying, "I’m so happy to be joining MLP and my fellow new co-owners with the Mad Drops." Jones won Final Four Most Outstanding Player honors in 2021 and was named an All-Conference selection in the Pac-12 that season.
Tatum has made a name for himself in the NBA, being named an NBA All-Star four times in his first six seasons. He averaged career-highs in points, rebounds, and assists this season, helping the Boston Celtics secure the Eastern Conference’s No. 2 seed. Tatum won NBA All-Star MVP honors in February and led the Celtics to last year’s NBA Finals.
Allen, the two-time Pro Bowl quarterback of the Buffalo Bills, has led the team to three consecutive AFC East Division titles and the 2020-21 AFC Championship Game. He holds single-season franchise records for passing yards and touchdowns.
Loyd and LaVine are now part of the Miami Pickleball Club ownership group, which also features pro athletes Naomi Osaka, Nick Kyrgios, Patrick Mahomes, Darius Garland, and Mardy Fish. Loyd, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 WNBA Draft, has won two WNBA championships with the Seattle Storm and was named a four-time WNBA All-Star. Loyd won an Olympic Gold Medal at the 2020 Tokyo Games.
LaVine has had a successful nine-year career in the NBA, being a two-time NBA All-Star and two-time NBA Slam Dunk Contest Champion. He has played for the Minnesota Timberwolves and Chicago Bulls during his career. LaVine was drafted 13th overall by Minnesota in the 2014 NBA Draft after one collegiate season with UCLA.
Carlsen is a Norwegian chess grandmaster and five-time World Chess Champion. He is the number-one rated player in the world for over a decade. Carlsen was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time Magazine in 2013, the year he won his first world championship.
Carlsen joins the ownership group of AZ Drive, which includes 11-time NFL Pro Bowler Larry Fitzgerald, U.S. Olympic legend Michael Phelps, three-time NBA All-Star Devin Booker, and country music singer and songwriter Dierks Bentley.
Major League Pickleball has been rapidly growing in popularity, and the addition of these high-profile owners will only boost its presence. These owners are not only influential in their respective fields but also have a strong following among younger fans, which is crucial for the continued growth of the sport.
With the addition of these high-profile owners, MLP is poised for continued growth and success. Their involvement will bring attention to the sport, attract new fans, and further establish pickleball as a legitimate and exciting sport.