We all know Dirk Nowitzki can dunk, but how well can he dink?
The Dallas Mavericks legend will compete in a celebrity pickleball showdown at the USA Pickleball national championship next month in Farmers Branch. Nowitzki will be joined by former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd, Dallas Stars center Tyler Seguin and professional tennis pro John Isner.
This is not the first time the sports celebrities have teamed up for pickleball. Last year, Nowitzki, Romo and Isner entertained fans in Frisco for nearly two hours.
For the uninitiated into the fast-growing sport, a dink is shot with an upward trajectory that lands just over the net. It’s particularly helpful when playing against a more powerful player.
But the nine-day Biofreeze USA Pickleball tournament is expected to draw some 3,500 amateur and professional players and some 20,000 spectators to North Texas, making it the world’s largest-ever pickleball tournament. Organizers said the event will provide a $10 million boost to the local economy.
“We can’t wait to welcome the pickleball world to Dallas for the biggest-ever celebration of our wonderful sport to date,” Dave Fleming, a Dallas senior pro and the official broadcast voice of the PPA Tour, said in a statement. “Championship court will be buzzing to see these outstanding athletes go head-to-head.”
In addition to the celebrity matches, the tournament will feature amateur pickleball games and beginner clinics. Pros will compete for more than $150,000 in prize money.
Described as a cross of tennis, ping pong and badminton, pickleball is one of the hottest and fastest-growing sports in the U.S. Roughly 14% of American adults, or 36.5 million people, played at least once in 2022, according to a study commissioned by the Association of Pickleball Professionals.
Before selecting a new location, USA Pickleball sought bids from multiple cities, and a bid from the Dallas Sports Commission emerged as a leader, the organization previously said. North Texas was selected thanks in part to its central location and the facilities at Brookhaven Country Club in Farmers Branch, which completed $5.3 million in renovations and upgrades.
The party will extend beyond the courts. The street outside Brookhaven will be designated Pickleball Boulevard with live music, family friendly activities and a “Taste of Pickle” exhibit with food and beverage vendors.
The celebrity match is at 7 p.m. Nov. 7. Tickets are $30. The tournament is Nov. 5-12. Tickets start at $25.