(CLEARWATER, Fla. – Sept. 26, 2023) PBX Pickleball, the organization that unites retired professional athletes with the pickleball community, has signed Basketball Hall of Famer Rick Barry as a “PBX Pro.” The NBA legend participated in PBX Training Camp this summer alongside retired athletes from the NHL, MLB, and NFL. The PBX Pros are preparing to participate in PBX experiences across the country, including the PBX Tour, PBX Pro-Ams, PBX Dream Weekends, and PBX Corporate Events that are slated to begin this fall.
PBX Pros are defined as retired athletes who reached the pinnacle of their respective sports and have a range of pickleball experience from beginner to expert. As a veteran pickleball enthusiast, Barry has proven to be a highly skilled player at the age of 79, taking on players of all ages in pickleball tournaments across the country.
“As a retired pro athlete, PBX Pickleball allows us to reignite that competitive spirit and camaraderie that we all experienced at the highest level,” said Barry. “At the same time, fans and pickleball players can be on the same playing field as us through the PBX Pro-Ams. I think pickleball can be bigger than golf for celebrity events, corporate outings, and overall participation in the sport. I’m thrilled to be part of it.”
Barry is the only player ever to lead the NCAA, NBA, and ABA in scoring, having scored more than 25,000 points in his professional career. He averaged more than 30 points in four separate seasons without a 3-point line and was named to 12 All-Star teams, four All-NBA First Teams, and five All-ABA First Teams. He won the NBA Championship in 1975 as the leader of the Golden State Warriors. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1987.
Barry joins other top-tier athletes to participate in PBX Pickleball, including Hall of Famer John Smoltz, 7x All-Star and World Series Champion Matt Holliday, NFL Pro Bowler and Super Bowl Champ Golden Tate, 4x World Series Champ Tino Martinez, 4x Stanley Cup Champ Kris Draper, 2x MLB All-Star Brad Penny, 18-year MLB veteran Kent Mercker, 3x MLB All-Star Kevin Youkilis, 4x All-Star and 2x World Series Champion Mike Lowell, 3x All-Star and 2x World Series Champion Josh Beckett, and 2x All-Star and 2x World Series Champion Jeff Conine.
In the PBX Tour, the PBX Pros will represent their respective sports in tournaments for live audiences across the country. In the PBX Pro-Ams, Dream Weekends, and Corporate Experiences, amateur pickleball players will have the opportunity to take the pickleball courts with PBX Pros who excelled in baseball, hockey, football, basketball, and other sports.
As part of its outreach to athletes across major American sports, PBX Pickleball partnered with the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association (MLBPAA) and the NHL Alumni Association. PBX also partnered with Parity to reach women athletes across 70+ sports.
About PBX Pickleball
PBX Pickleball creates memorable experiences by uniting well-known retired professional athletes with amateur pickleball players and fans. Established in 2023, PBX Pickleball consists of four experiences: the PBX Tour, PBX Pro-Ams, PBX Dream Weekends, and PBX Corporate Experiences. The company is part of The Sports Facilities Companies (SFC), the nation’s leading resource for the management and development of sports, recreation, wellness, and events facilities. To learn more about PBX Pickleball, go to https://pbxpickleball.com or follow @pbxpickleball on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
About The Sports Facilities Companies
The Sports Facilities Companies (SFC) are the nation’s leading resources for the management and development of sports, recreation, wellness, and events facilities. As a turn-key solution for community leaders and developers alike, SFC services span the gamut of sports and recreation needs from sports tourism & recreation master planning, program planning, and feasibility through professional facility management services. Our 45+ managed venues and 2000+ team members, represented by the SF Network, welcome more than 25 million guest visits and produce over $300 million in economic impact each year. To learn more, please visit SportsFacilities.com and theSFnetwork.com.
PBX Pickleball Media Contact:
Eric Nemeth
602-502-2793