Samin Odhwani was named commissioner of Major League Pickleball (MLP) earlier this week.

 

Along with his new duties, Odhwani will remain the United Pickleball Association's (UPA) Chief Strategy Officer and continue to report to PPA and MLP (UPA) CEO Connor Pardoe on all business matters.

Pardoe and his family own MLP's Utah Black Diamonds.

 

As MLP Commissioner, Odhwani will report to the MLP board on team governance and on-court competition, ensuring alignment with the league’s vision. He will lead the league's business model and content distribution strategy, too.

 

Odhwani brings extensive experience from his time at the NBA, as VP of Strategy for Kevin Durant’s 35V and Boardroom, and as General Manager of MLP's Brooklyn Aces (now D.C. Pickleball Team) from mid-2023 until this February.

“Having worked at the NBA, or investing with KD, seeing [MLS Commissioner] Don Garber and [NWSL Commissioner] Jess Berman (through 35V’s investments in the Philadelphia Union and Gotham FC) -- the commissioner role has to touch both,” Odhwani told Sports Business Journal (SBJ) writer Rob Schaefer in a story published on Thursday regarding balancing competition and business considerations as MLP Commissioner. “Do I have 22 team owners who are my best friend and call at any day or time of night to say, ‘Hey, I want to talk about rules?’ Yes, of course. At the same time, it’s the balancing act of, ‘Where’s the business going?’ What the successful commissioners have done is nail both parts.”

 

According to the SBJ article, Odhwani is squarely focused on increasing awareness about MLP and its players, and negotiating media rights as well since both national (ESPN, Fox, Tennis Channel) and local deals expire following the 2025 campaign.

 

“We have a blank slate for ’26, which is fun,” Odhwani told Schaefer. “Because then the puzzle pieces come together.”

 

The season-opening MLP Orlando runs through Sunday, April 27 at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, FL.

 

Coverage is available on Pickleballtv and the Pickleballtv App.