Terrence Ross’s Pickleball Passion: Former NBA player Terrence Ross discovered a new passion in pickleball after retiring, using it as a way to stay active and satisfy his competitive drive. Ross started playing casually with his wife and friends during summer evenings and quickly became hooked on the fast-growing sport.
Ross, who played for the Orlando Magic and Phoenix Suns, didn’t expect pickleball to challenge him. But after playing a few games, he realized it was tougher than he thought.
“The summer after I retired, I played pickleball on the weekends with my wife and a couple of our friends. We would play right when the sun goes down during the evening and it was just perfect. And after I played it once, I was hooked.” – (ross)
Pickleball Brings a Surprise Challenge
Ross admitted he first underestimated the sport.
“Before I ever played pickleball, I thought I’d go out there and dominate. I’m competitive and athletic, so I just assumed I’d be good. But then I went out there and I had people beating me who were barely moving and scoring on me, I’m like ‘Yo, this is crazy! I’m getting humbled by these older women who were barely moving and they have me running all over the court.’ They knew how to spin the ball or hit it to my chest, so I was completely caught off guard.” – (ross)
Despite the humbling experience, Ross didn’t give up. Instead, he wanted to improve.
“The hardest part for me was learning not to hit the ball too hard. I’d get too amped up and send the ball out of the park. But once I got the hang of it, pickleball became really fun. Pickleball feels like one of those games I’d played so many times in the past because it’s so similar to ping pong and tennis.” – (ross)
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Charity Event and Skills from Ping Pong
Ross took part in MLP Orlando, an event where he and other former Orlando Magic players helped raise money for charity with the Orlando Squeeze. He felt confident thanks to his background in another paddle sport.
“I love ping pong. I’ve been playing since I was a kid, and it’s one of my favorite games. I have a ping pong table at the house, so I play a lot. Having that ping pong background made the transition to pickleball a lot easier than I thought since they have their similarities. Serving came the most naturally to me because it felt a lot like ping pong. When I started playing pickleball, I could add a lot of spin thanks to playing ping pong.” – (ross)
The experience at the MLP Orlando event made Ross want to return to the game more regularly.
“Pickleball’s definitely a great time, and I gotta get back out there again.” – (ross)
Ross Keeps the Competitive Spirit Alive
Ross’ journey from the NBA court to the pickleball court shows how the sport appeals to athletes looking for fun and challenge after retirement. His story could inspire more players to try pickleball, a sport that continues to grow in popularity across all age groups.
News in Brief: Terrence Ross’s Pickleball Passion
Former NBA star Terrence Ross has embraced pickleball after retiring from basketball. Introduced to the sport by friends and family, Ross quickly became hooked, citing its similarity to ping pong and tennis. He recently participated in a charity event at MLP Orlando and says he’s eager to play more.
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