Ex-Pro Athletes, Other Stars Gear Up for Celebrity Pickleball Bash Scheduled on NBA All-Star Weekend
A who’s who of ex-pros from the NBA, MLB, and event the UFC are gearing up for the launch of the Celebrity Pickleball Bash. This is a series of showcases where celebrities team up with professional players for an exciting combination of pickleball and entertainment.
Teaming up as equity partners for this venture are New York Knicks All-Star guard Jalen Brunson, comedian Anthony Anderson, country pop singer Jessie James Decker, former NFL wide receiver Eric Decker, actor and on-air personality Mario Lopez, PIVOT Agency Founder and former Golden State Warriors executive Ben Shapiro, and current CEO of Rhode Skin Nick Vlahos.
“We’re thrilled to launch this venture with Jalen, Anthony, Nick, Eric, Jessie, and our group of celebrity partners. Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in North America, and this series of events is a natural evolution of the game in creating a lively, engaging celebrity based pickleball platform for fans to engage with celebrities and professional athletes in a party-like atmosphere. This is going to be a must-see event in every market/major event we activate at and should serve as a growth lever for the sport of pickleball as a whole,” said Ben Shapiro, PIVOT Agency Founder and Former Executive for the NBA’s Golden State Warriors.”
“Pickleball is rapidly growing as a major sport and I am excited about the upcoming Celebrity Pickleball Bash,” added Jalen Brunson of the NBA New York Knicks and a likely participant in the NBA All-Star Weekend as one of the league’s best players. “I’m proud to be a part of the ownership team and look forward to what’s ahead.”
Growing Pickleball with New Ambassadors from Other Fields
The Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) will serve as a strategic partner in Celebrity Pickleball Bash, which is aiming to grow the world’s fastest-growing sport even more. And that’s why it will also feature several professional picklers the pickleball community is likely familiar with, notably Christian Alshon, Hayden Patriquin, Parris Todd, and Jessie Irvine.
“Pickleball has been a big part of my life and this series of events is going to be a ton of fun for both fans and players alike,” said Anthony Anderson, a famed comedian and one of the equity partners of Celebrity Pickleball Bash. “Ben Shapiro and his team have a great vision for Celebrity Pickleball Bash, and I think everybody involved is excited to get on the court and see what we’ve got.”
The inaugural Celebrity Pickleball Bash events will take place in San Francisco on 15–16 February 2025 at the iconic Warfield Theatre in San Francisco, California. Those play dates coincide with the NBA’s All-Star Weekend, an annual showcase of the world’s greatest basketball league.
After the launch of the Celebrity Pickleball Bash in February, there are also plans to hold additional showcases coinciding with major sporting events in San Antonio, Las Vegas, and New York. Each event will feature celebrities teaming up with professional pickleball players, in addition to a variety of entertainment performances throughout the day.
