Tama Shimabukuro: Pickleball's Newest Superstar on the Atlanta Run That Changed Everything

Tama Shimabukuro is a 15-year-old professional pickleball player who became an overnight sensation after reaching the singles final at the Atlanta Slam, finishing fourth in men's doubles, and earning the full-throated backing of an entire crowd that couldn't stop chanting his name.

In this episode, Tama calls in with Roscoe and Jared just days after his historic Atlanta run to break down what that week actually felt like from inside the storm. They cover the crowd moments, the mental game, and how a kid from Hawaii ends up on the sport's biggest stage.

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Timestamps:

1:00 — Tama on life after Atlanta

1:34 — Was it an out-of-body experience?

2:09 — The crowd, the chants, and the chaos

4:03 — The MJ shrug explained

6:25 — Messages flooding in after the run

6:56 — Breaking down the Fed match

8:48 — Is he actually that calm, or just built different?

10:14 — Was the breakout a surprise?

11:15 — Background: skateboarder to pickleball

12:36 — Self-taught: 10 hours of rec a day

14:16 — Life on the road with Mama Tama

17:08 — Sponsorship and partnership questions

18:19 — Pros he studies, dream doubles partners

20:41 — Fan Q&A

22:19 — Advice for young players

23:48 — Toughest opponent so far

24:26 — Message to new fans