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Rick Barry, who will turn 80 in late March, is almost like a newcomer once more. As an NBA superstar, he is now eligible to compete in the oldest age category and is quickly proving his dominance in the sport, just as he did many years ago in basketball.
Similar to numerous individuals in their seventies in recent times, Barry abandoned his additional recreational activities after retiring, specifically tennis and golf, in favor of a different sport commonly linked with elderly individuals moving at a leisurely pace: pickleball.
Retired from the NBA in 1980, Barry expressed his need to pursue another competitive activity. He found that playing tennis was taking a toll on his body, making it too difficult to continue.
Barry was faced with another athletic dilemma after dominating the world of Long Drive golf from 2007 to 2013 and the elimination of the “old farts divisions” in that particular niche competition. His wife, Lynn, a former college basketball standout, had an idea.
“Why not give pickleball a try?” Barry laughed as he remembered their conversation. “I was like, ‘What in the world is pickleball?'”
Barry was unfamiliar with Pickleball, as his basketball career, which lasted for 15 years, took him through two leagues and earned him an NBA championship, had perfected the underhand free throw but not the more traditional foul shot.
However, due to his tall stature, long reach, and his ability to transfer his skills from tennis, Barry, standing at 6 feet 7 inches, adapted quickly to this unique sport with its humorous name and unconventional regulations.
Unfortunately, he faced difficulty in learning and accepting the most crucial shot in pickleball, the dink. It was a challenge for him to hit the ball after it has bounced inside the kitchen, an area of 140 square feet in front of the net where hitting the ball in the air is not permitted. However, this obstacle became a valuable lesson for Barry’s growth in the sport.
Barry stated that initially, he disliked the kitchen area when playing pickleball, but later he came to realize that it is essential for playing at a high level.
Barry traveled for two hours from his residence in Bradenton, Florida to participate in pickleball at The Villages. This retirement community boasts 200 pickleball courts and numerous enthusiasts, including some nationally recognized players.
“I had the opportunity to practice with talented individuals, as that is the key to improvement,” he stated. “My goal was to reach a high enough level to compete for a national championship.”
Barry has achieved this accomplishment, becoming the champion of the men’s doubles in his division at the US Open held last year in Naples and at the Huntsman World Senior Games in St. George, Utah. He has also earned medals in mixed doubles at various national, regional, and local tournaments.
After participating in tournaments for three years, Barry will bring a record of 99 wins and 45 losses into his upcoming national event, the US Open in April. This will mark the first time that Barry will compete in a singles event with the goal of achieving a triple crown by winning three gold medals.
Barry’s greatest challenge in reaching his current objective is the dwindling number of players his age to challenge him. The 80-and-over division usually receives the lowest number of entries as contestants must participate in multiple matches (up to six or seven) within a 10-hour period in order to place.
Carl Foster, the president and co-owner of a professional team in Florida and also the organizer of tournaments nationwide, expressed that older individuals tend to avoid competitive tournaments due to the intense physical demands. Attempting to participate in older divisions can be taxing if one is not in good physical condition.
Barry is not the sole athlete to have played pickleball professionally, as he joins a list of renowned players who have also been inducted into both the NBA and ABA Hall of Fame.
63-year-old Ivan Lendl, a renowned tennis player, successfully claimed victory in two consecutive tournaments in the 5.0 division for men’s pro doubles (second only to the professional level), competing in the 50-and-over and 60-and-over categories.
In 1985, Carling Bassett-Seguso reached the No. 8 spot in the WTA rankings, but injuries and a lengthy battle with depression ultimately disrupted her once promising career. Currently 56 years old, she now spends much of her time on the courts in Delray Beach, often accompanied by her children.
Bassett-Seguso took up pickleball two years ago, but tore her ACL and MCL seven months into her new sport while playing in a tournament. Those injuries added to other serious setbacks including a broken hip, shattered pelvis and several concussions while riding horses for a decade after her tennis career ended.
“I have injured every part of my body,” she stated while taking a break from playing recreational matches in Delray Beach in February.
She underwent a three-year period of treatment for clinical depression, which included the use of psilocybin mushrooms. However, pickleball has proven to be the most effective remedy for her recovery.
“She expressed her love for life, sharing that she was going through a difficult time until she discovered pickleball. Now, she loves it even more and believes it to be the most therapeutic sport for her. She has formed close relationships with about 100 friends who she knows she can always count on. In her opinion, there’s no other sport quite like it.”
Jack Sock and Genie Bouchard, two of the most recent highly ranked players, have shifted their focus to professional pickleball after their promising tennis careers hit a roadblock.
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Sock, aged 31, emerged victorious in his inaugural competition in May, playing mixed doubles alongside the top female player in the sport, teenage sensation Anna Leigh Waters. Bouchard, who reached the Wimbledon finals at the age of 19 in 2014, suffered early defeats in doubles, mixed doubles, and singles in her debut in January.
“It is a misconception that your average professional tennis players can simply come in and dominate,” stated Foster, the tournament director of a Florida event where Lendl achieved victory. “In reality, many young players who struggle on the tennis tour end up switching early.”
The main problem faced by senior pickleball players, regardless of their skill level, is the growing popularity of the sport among younger demographics.
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Ben Johns, who grew up in Maryland, is the top male player at age 23 while Waters, a Floridian who turned 17 in February, has been a dominant player and No 1 on the women’s side for a few years.
At the age of 12, Waters achieved her inaugural victory in a tournament alongside her mother, Leigh, who was a former collegiate tennis player. Johns and Waters, who have recently earned their 30th mixed doubles title as partners, originate from states that saw a rise in popularity for pickleball during the pandemic.
With the changing demographics of the sport, Foster is convinced that Waters’ accomplishments as a preteen will never be matched. Despite this, there are still others attempting to replicate them.
Foster stated that it would be unlikely for another 12-year-old to dominate in the same manner as she did. Other players, such as Ben Johns, are starting to catch up to her skills. As with any sport, upsets are inevitable. Many athletes from various sports possess the necessary athletic ability and hand-eye coordination for pickleball. This is a major factor in the rapid growth of the sport, as people can easily join and compete. However, the potential success of each player depends on their learning and mastery of the game.
In addition, some renowned athletes such as LeBron James and Tom Brady are promoting Pickleball by investing in Major Professional Pickleball franchises. Others like John McEnroe and Andre Agassi are participating in televised Pickleball events, such as Pickleball Ball Slam I and II.
McEnroe and Agassi recently competed for the second straight year in the ESPN event at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino near Fort Lauderdale. McEnroe played with Maria Sharapova against Agassi and Steffi Graf in the night’s featured match.
When asked about his participation, Agassi stated that after winning their mixed doubles match, he hopes it will contribute to the growth of the sport. He believes that the sport will continue to expand due to its strong sense of community and the opportunity to bond with friends while engaging in the activity. He also mentioned that it serves as a great equalizer, allowing for a wide range of matchups to be successful.
Foster explained that while the matches at Pickleball Slam may not have been top-notch, having celebrities participate adds credibility to the sport. Though many current athletes play pickleball, they typically do so for leisure rather than in a competitive setting. While some take the sport seriously, others use it as a form of exercise.
Steve Rose, a previous player of various racket sports, switched to pickleball eight years ago. After winning a professional event for players aged 60 and over with Lendl, he stated that tennis players now see a more achievable route to succeeding in pickleball.
“At first, the tennis players were hesitant to try pickleball,” stated Rose. “But now, with the enthusiasm of players like Ivan and Jack Sock, they are drawing in more tennis players, elevating the overall level and popularity of the game, and bringing in more well-known names for everyone to enjoy.”
Lendl doesn’t look at his status as a tennis legend helping grow the game’s popularity as the reason for playing.
Lendl expressed that his main goal was to have fun with his friends while helping Rose secure their intense gold medal match in February. He believes that the location of the game, whether on a professional court or in a backyard, does not impact his enjoyment. This sentiment carries over from his experience with tennis, as he found joy in playing in his own backyard and found great satisfaction from playing well.
According to Foster, Lendl’s appearance in the Boca Masters was due to its convenient location near his recent move to Vero Beach. This win marked over 40 years since Lendl’s first ATP tournament victory in Houston when he was 20 years old. He would go on to win a total of 93 tournaments, including eight Grand Slams.
Foster stated that Lendl’s inaugural [pickleball] championship in Boca would always be remembered by him. Foster also mentioned his efforts to recruit Lendl for his pro team in the upcoming year.
Even though he isn’t committed to the game, McEnroe acknowledges that it can serve as a valuable outlet for aging athletes who still crave competition.
“You have people like Rick Barry, who are lunatics when it comes to signing autographs,” McEnroe said playfully.
According to Rose, who has witnessed Barry’s performance at tournaments, many veteran players, such as Rick Barry, now have a chance to return to the game and succeed once more.
His basketball career included being selected as an All-Star 13 times, with eight selections in the NBA and five in the ABA. He was also recognized as one of the NBA’s 50 greatest players on both its 50th and 75th anniversary teams. However, he now competes in relative obscurity, with only a few opponents showing signs of recognition.
In 1975, Barry captained the Golden State Warriors in a victorious sweep against the Washington Bullets. He was named the NBA finals MVP and his fiery nature remains as strong as it was 50 years ago, especially when it comes to his recent fascination, shared by many others. The only problem now is finding fellow octogenarians to compete against. There’s no one of similar caliber to challenge Barry in pickleball, like Elgin Baylor or Julius Erving might have on a basketball court.
Regardless of the fact that his opponents may be several decades his junior, Barry will continue to compete in the game.
Barry expressed his enjoyment in competing in tournaments against individuals twice his age, stating that he embraces the challenge. While he acknowledges that for some it may be a casual social activity, for him, any athletic endeavor is approached with a competitive mindset.
