Miami Heat icon Udonis Haslem becomes latest superstar ex-athlete to take ownership…when he buys a stake in a professional Jai-Alai team
- The 43-year-old retired after losing to the Nuggets in the NBA Finals in June
- Eugenie Bouchard, Ray Lewis and Jorge Masvidal are other investors in Jai-Alai
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Udonis Haslem has become the latest high profile name to invest in a professional Jai-Alai team after buying a stake in Florida’s Rebote Renegades.
The former NBA hooper, who retired after 20 seasons with the Miami Heat, took to Instagram on Monday to announce his investment in the niche sport, saying, “New chapter means new venture as team owner of @jaialaileague.”
Like pickleball, the wallball sport has become popular again in recent months, especially after other retired athletes, such as ex-NFL linebacker Ray Lewis and former UFC star Jorge Masvidal, have invested in it.
Wimbledon finalist (2014) Eugenie Bouchard has also invested in Jai-Alai.
Haslem’s latest signing comes as a surprise, although the 43-year-old claims to have grown up with the sport, which is commonly played in Miami because much of the population is from Latin America, where Jai-Alai is. established.
Udonis Haslem invested in Jai-Alai after spending a lot of time playing the sport while growing up in Florida
Haslem, 43, is now the new owner of the Rebote Renegades, of the World Jai-Alai League
“Honored to be part of a sport with a deep-rooted history, especially here in my city and for me personally through the memories of my father,” said the former basketball player.
“And you all know I’m competitive so I’m going to make sure the Renegades are here to work!!
“Winning is always on my mind, wherever we are! I’m excited to do it for Miami, for the players and for the fans around the world.”
Jai-Alai is a popular sport in South America and the Philippines due to its Spanish origin
Other affiliated teams in the World Jai-Alai League include Lifestyle Miami Chargers, Dejada Devils, Wall WArriors and Cesta Cyclones.
Jai-Alai, seen as a variation of the Basque pelota, involves bouncing a ball off a walled space by accelerating it to high speed with a hand-held reed called a cesta.
The court for Jai-Alai consists of walls on the front, back and left sides and the floor in between. If the ball touches the floor outside these walls, it is considered out of bounds.
The sport is commonly played in Latin American countries and the Philippines due to its Spanish influence.
They were countries one of the two gambling sports from Europe, the other being horse racing.