FARMERS BRANCH, Texas — World champion. MVP. Hall of Famer.
Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki carries a lot of titles, but on Nov. 7, he'll be a pickleball pro. The Pickleball World Championships announced Nowitzi as the headliner for the Deep Eddy Vodka Celebrity Pickleball Showdown.
Nowitzki is no stranger to the game. He participated last year with golfer Scottie Scheffler, former Cowboys QB Tony Romo, Mavs head coach Jason Kidd and Dallas Stars legend Marty Turco.
Last year, Nowitzki walked away with the "Most Funnest Player Award".
Here is a list of the other celebrities competing: Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd, former No. 1 ranked American Professional Tennis Player John Isner, Pro Football Hall of Fame Wide Receiver Terrell Owens, seven-time Pro Bowl running back Adrian Peterson, former NBA forward Kris Humphries, former NFL wide receiver and Super Bowl champion Golden Tate and social media creator Jenna Bandy.
"For me the amazing thing is to see how far this thing has come ... This is like rockstar level," said Nowitzki before taking the court at last year’s event. "I'm super impressed with the set-up, how many players are here. It is insanity on another level, how big this sport has gotten."
This year, amateur and pro pickleball players are hoping to play in front of another sold-out crowd at Brookhaven Country Club in Farmers Branch.
Last year, Brookhaven Country Club welcomed more than 50,000 fans and 3,500 competitors from 49 states, bringing an estimated $14 million in economic impact to the region, officials said in a release.
The Celebrity Pickleball Showdown takes place at 7 p.m. on Nov. 7.
