ALAMEDA, Calif. – Pickleball, often touted as the fastest-growing sport in the U.S., is gaining attention with help from celebrity athletes. Former NBA star Jeremy Lin recently participated in a charity pickleball tournament alongside tennis legend Michael Chang.
Lin, a native of Palo Alto, joined the event known as “DINKsanity,” where he squared off against Chang in a light-hearted but competitive match. In pickleball, a “dink” refers to a soft shot that is just barely sent over the net.
Jeremy Lin, famously known for his meteoric rise in the NBA during the “Linsanity” era, acknowledged that he was the underdog in this matchup. “It’s like 10 to 1 or 15 to 1. I’m definitely the heavy underdog right now,” Lin admitted to KTVU’s Betty Yu, referencing his odds against the seasoned tennis pro.
The event took place at The Hub Sports Club in Alameda, home to the Bay Area Breakers, a team in Major League Pickleball, of which Lin is a co-owner. He emphasized the importance of building the sport’s community.
“There’s a lot of momentum, especially for something as great as sports. It’s incredible to see the community forming around pickleball,” Lin said. He added that pickleball could become a “dark horse” in the sports world, with potential for growth in the future.
The charity tournament raised over $30,000 to support both The Jeremy Lin Foundation, which aids underprivileged youth, and Pickleball Cares, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the sport’s outreach.
“Our foundation focuses on empowering the AAPI community and fostering cross-racial solidarity. The Bay Area is one of our key regions where we’re actively involved,” Lin explained.
Among the enthusiastic crowd were 12-year-old twin brothers, Anthony and Brayden Chen, from Albany, who play pickleball regularly. Brayden noted that Lin’s success, despite his shorter stature for an NBA player, is particularly inspiring.
For Chang, one of pickleball’s main appeals is its social nature. “It’s a sport where you can easily talk, laugh, and have fun while playing,” Chang said. “I don’t know anyone who doesn’t enjoy themselves when they come out to play.”
Although Lin considers himself a beginner, he gave a quick lesson in some basic pickleball moves. When asked if “DINKsanity” could become the next catchphrase, he laughed and responded, “I’m not sure. I think I still need to earn that title with better performances.”
Ultimately, Chang remained undefeated, winning both exhibition matches against Lin.
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