NBA star Trae Young believes pickleball’s appeal lies in its ability to bring people together, regardless of age or skill level, as the Atlanta Hawks guard reflected on the growth of Major League Pickleball during an appearance at MLP Austin.
Young, who has been involved with an MLP franchise, said he had watched both his team and the league evolve over the years, crediting the people behind the scenes for helping drive the sport’s rapid rise.
“Oh, I mean, obviously my team is different every year, but we have great people that run it and help me along with it and make sure our players are well taken care of and all that,” Young said courtside while talking to Pickleball TV.
“Our team has really grown a lot, but also this league. I mean, that’s the main thing. As athletes outside the sport, we help try to grow this league as much as we can.”
Young said it remained surreal to watch professional pickleball players compete at the highest level in a sport many initially picked up recreationally.
“This is something we all play just for fun, so to see all these pros out here doing their thing is just really cool,” he said.
The four-time NBA All-Star was particularly pleased after watching Jaume Martinez Vich and Donald Young secure a key victory.
“Oh, I’m super proud, super proud,” he said.
“I know this is a really good team we’re playing against, but I grew up being an underdog, so even if we’re an underdog, I still believe we can come out on top. I’m glad our boys got that. We’ve got a few more we’ve got to get to, though.”
While Young admitted he still has some way to go before matching the professionals, he revealed that pickleball has become part of his off-season routine.
“Okay, so these pros are at a 10. I’m probably at like a five right now,” he joked.
“I play a little bit in the summertime just to stay active and have some fun with my friends, but I’m not nearly as good as these guys or women out here.”
Young also drew parallels between basketball and pickleball, pointing to competitiveness and teamwork as common traits.
“I think it’s very competitive. Both are very competitive,” he said before adding, “You need your teammates to help you win, so that’s another similarity. But I think the main thing is you have fun in both sports. You can have fun from being a young kid all the way up to an older adult.”
“And in both sports, I’m happy I’m able to be a part of this MLP league because this is something I want to play for the rest of my life.”
Asked to choose between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs, Young offered a brief response that drew laughs from those around him.
“Neither,” he said.
