Former NBA player Gary Payton II ventures into the world of professional skateboarding with the launch of his own league. This initiative joins the trend of athlete-led leagues, seeking greater relevance for Olympic and action sports throughout the year.
The Skate Board Association is Born
The Skate Board Association (SBA) is a mixed street skateboarding league, which will have six teams. The inaugural season, consisting of ten games, is scheduled for next summer in Big Bear Lake, California. Payton II, who last played for the Golden State Warriors, explained that he founded the league with his partners Royce Campbell and Sheldon Lewis, motivated by his childhood passion for skateboarding.Faced with the proposal from his partners, Payton II wondered: “Why isn’t there a professional league like the NFL, NBA, or NHL for skateboarding? Let’s change the sports game and the skateboarding game.” Payton II will serve as the director of VIP relations and will own one of the six league teams. Each team will be made up of six athletes: three women and three men, as well as reserves and coaches. Equal pay between men and women will be guaranteed. The league has signed non-exclusive contracts with 18 athletes, including Kelvin Hoefler, 2020 Olympic silver medalist; Manny Santiago, SLS Select Series champion; Ryan Decenzo and Pamela Rosa, gold medalists at the X Games in street skateboarding; and Samarria Brevard, silver medalist. Bravard highlighted that the league’s structure will alleviate the stress and uncertainty currently faced by athletes, allowing them to focus on competition. “This will change the rules of the game and create opportunities that did not exist before,” he stated. Unlike most skateboarding competitions, where athletes receive a prize based on their ranking, the SBA will offer athletes salaries, bonuses, and a share of the merchandising revenue. The top picks in the draft will receive six-figure salaries, while the less prominent will earn mid-five-figure salaries. Payton II announced that the league plans to sign at least 18 more athletes before its draft in Los Angeles later this year. The SBA joins a series of new leagues seeking to address fragmentation in sports like skateboarding and provide better support for elite athletes. In March, snowboard star Shaun White launched The Snow League, an international halfpipe series for snowboarders and freestyle skiers. The following month, the Grand Slam Track League, led by Michael Johnson, a four-time Olympic gold medalist, held its first competition in Kingston, Jamaica, but dissolved after three months due to financial problems. The inaugural season of the X Games League, where skateboarders and BMX riders will compete in teams, is scheduled to begin next summer.“As a kid, I always wanted to be a skater. The skate park was right next to the basketball court. I would go skate with my friends and they would skate at the park while I played basketball,” Payton II commented.
Gary Payton II
The league plans to hold its inaugural six-month season in Big Bear, a mountain town two hours east of Los Angeles, with plans to expand to other cities in the future. Travis Scott, CEO of Visit Big Bear, commented: “Big Bear has always been a natural home for altitude training and action sports, and we are excited to welcome the SBA as it sets its sights on our mountain community.” Payton II aspires for the SBA to become a league in the style of the NBA, with multiple venues across the country, training facilities, and an annual draft. “Skaters risk their bodies more than athletes in most sports, aside from football,” he stated. “Why don’t they receive the same treatment as NBA players when they take more risks than we do?” Payton II believes that other professional athletes will join him as team owners in the new league. “Many football and basketball athletes skated when they were kids and had to put down their boards to play professionally in their sport,” he said. “But they still have that desire to be skaters.” “Owning an SBA skate team is like playing Tony Hawk Pro Skater again, choosing the guys, choosing the brands to skate. So many people have that connection to skateboarding,” he concluded.“I want skaters to be valued and get the right sponsorships so they can take care of their bodies, take care of their families, and buy their own house. If I can change the game for them, that’s a win,” Payton II expressed.
Gary Payton II
