Maroon 5 lead guitarist James Valentine has found an unexpected passion for pickleball when he isn't touring.

Despite a long-standing commitment to tennis, Valentine never anticipated that pickleball would eventually become his go-to racket sport.

“I was a tennis snob,” he admitted. “I played tennis every day for 15 years, and I loved tennis. I never thought when I started playing pickleball that I would stop playing tennis, but eventually I did. It was kind of an accident because I was playing more and more pickleball.”

Valentine now counts himself among the growing list of former tennis players who have embraced pickleball.

“I’m trying to convert my old tennis friends to pickleball,” he said. “And with people like Andre Agassi coming over from pro tennis, I’d say to the tennis players that if it’s good enough for Agassi, then it’s good enough for you, so let’s stop the hate.”

Valentine reflected on his introduction to pickleball, which happened while Maroon 5 was in the middle of a residency in Las Vegas.

“A few years ago, we were in Vegas and I couldn’t find anybody to play tennis with,” he recalled. “But I got pulled over into some pickleball games, and as soon as I played a high-level pickleball game, I was hooked.”

His growing passion for the sport was on full display during the Jenius Bank Pickleball World Championships.

After performing at the American Airlines Center, Valentine still made time to wake up early the next morning to sit courtside and watch the pros compete on Championship Court.

“That’s the nature of touring. You’re in a different place every day, and it’s a pretty hectic life,” he mentioned. “But we were lucky that we ended up here during this tournament, so I could come.”

A lifelong racket-sport athlete, Valentine sees a strong connection between music and pickleball, particularly in the mental and emotional experience they create.

“There’s a lot of similarities between playing tennis, pickleball, and music. What I love about both of those activities is the flow state that can be achieved. I think that’s the major through-line, and there’s a moment in the middle of a song or when you’re in the middle of an amazing point where you just lose yourself and lose sense of time,” he noted. “You seem to be effortlessly in motion with the guitar or with your paddle. To me, that’s the best feeling in the world, and that’s what attracts me to this sport.” 

Valentine’s involvement goes far beyond recreational play.

He has shared the court with some of the world’s top players, including JW and Jorja Johnson, Hayden Patriquin, Gabe Tardio, Jessie Irvine, and Mary and Maggie Brascia.

“I’m most impressed by the resets and the ability to stay in dinks and build points,” praised Valentine. “There’s always so much to learn with them on the court.”

And while he’s had plenty of fun sharing the court with them, Valentine also genuinely enjoys watching their performances from the sidelines.

“I love playing with them, but I also love watching them and trying to emulate the things they’re doing,” he said. “Of course I can’t do it at their level, but it’s a lot of fun to try. Anytime you get to see the pros up close and witness what they’re doing on the courts is one of the best ways to learn.”

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