One of the best parts of Thursday’s MUNICIPAL Celebrity Pickleball Showdown presented by Corient was that it brought together celebrities and players from different athletic backgrounds all in a celebration of the sport.

It’s a reminder that one of pickleball’s greatest strengths is that it serves different people in different ways; for some, it’s work and competition and for others, it’s purely social.

In the spirit of pickleball’s versatility, we asked the participating celebrities to explain what makes pickleball unique from other sports.

Here are some of their responses.

Lauren Riihikmaki (LaurDIY): “There’s never been a sport that I can genuinely and competitively play with my parents—you know what I mean? And so, for it to span generations is so, so cool. My dad has body bagged me—like that’s so crazy. There’s no other sport I feel like where you can just jump in. It’s so accessible, and we have so much fun with it.”

Mark Wahlberg: I like the social aspect of it. People are hanging out—there are so many other things to do. People are drinking and eating and having a great time and socializing. I think it’s a very cool combination because in most sports, people will come in, watch the game, and then it will be over… I’ve seen it with pickleball and padel—a much more kind of social, cool vibe. DJs, music, all that stuff, and I haven’t seen that anywhere else.”

Richard Rawlings: “I think what’s enjoyable about pickleball is that it’s more relaxed. You’re just having a little fun, you’re getting some cardio in, you can have a few cocktails. People don’t have to get so serious.”

Whatever the reason, it’s clear that pickleball continues to do so much for so many.

Click here for a full rundown of the event.