The former NBA player, Gary Payton II, ventures into the world of professional skateboarding with the launch of a new league. This initiative joins the growing trend of athlete-led sports leagues, seeking to offer a constant presence in action and Olympic sports.
The Skate Board Association (SBA)
The SBA, a mixed street skateboarding league with six teams, plans to start its inaugural ten-game season next summer in Big Bear Lake, California. Payton II, who recently played for the Golden State Warriors, founded the league alongside Royce Campbell and Sheldon Lewis, motivated by his childhood passion for skateboarding.Payton II will serve as director of VIP relations and owner of one of the league’s six teams, each of which will have 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 Kevin Hoefler, 2020 Olympic silver medalist; Manny Santiago, SLS Select Series champion; Ryan Decenzo and Pamela Rosa, X Games street skateboarding gold medalists; and Samarria Brevard, silver medalist. The league structure, according to Brevard, will alleviate the stress and uncertainty currently faced by athletes, allowing them to focus on competition. The SBA will offer salaries and bonuses to athletes, as well as a share of revenue from merchandise sales. Top-ranked athletes will receive six-figure salaries, while those less prominent will earn mid-five-figure salaries. Payton II intends to sign at least 18 more athletes before the draft, which will be held later this year in Los Angeles. The SBA joins a series of new leagues seeking to improve the structure of competition in sports like skateboarding and provide better support to elite athletes. The plan is for the league to hold its inaugural six-month season in Big Bear, with plans to expand to other cities in the future. Payton II aspires to have the SBA become a league in the style of the NBA, with multiple venues across the country, training facilities, and an annual draft. The goal is to value skaters and provide them with the support they need to take care of their bodies and families. Payton II believes that other professional athletes will join him as team owners in the new league. Many football and basketball players practiced skateboarding in their youth and had to give it up to dedicate themselves professionally to their sport.As a kid, I always wanted to be a skater. The skate park was right next to the basketball court. I used to skate there with my friends and they skated at the park while I played basketball.
Gary Payton II
