Gary Payton II has always been known for his hustle, defense, and heart on the basketball court, but now he’s carving out a new lane entirely.
The NBA champion is stepping into the world of skateboarding, not as a hobbyist, but as a visionary founder. His new venture, the Skate Board Association (SBA), is set to become the world’s first co-ed, equal-pay professional skateboarding league.
“Growing up, I always wanted to be a skateboarder,” Payton said. “The skate park was right next to the basketball court. I’d skate there with my friends and they’d skate the park and I’d hoop”.
Payton’s childhood dream of skating never faded, even as basketball took center stage. Now, with the SBA, he’s blending his love for sports with a mission to elevate skateboarding to the professional level it’s long deserved. The league will debut next summer in Big Bear Lake, California, with six co-ed teams competing in a 10-game season.
Each team will feature three men and three women, along with reserves and coaches. Athletes will receive salaries, bonuses, and revenue shares from merchandise, marking a major shift from traditional skate contests that rely solely on prize money.
One of the SBA’s most groundbreaking features is its commitment to equal pay. Top draft picks are projected to earn six-figure salaries, while even the lowest picks will take home mid-five figures. Payton wants skaters to be treated like elite athletes, with access to sponsorships, recovery tools, and financial stability.
“If I can change the game for them, that’s a win,” he said. “Skaters put more of their body on the line than athletes in most sports other than football. Why don’t they get the same treatment as NBA players when they’re taking more risks than we are?”
The SBA isn’t just launching a league, it’s building a global platform for skateboarding. With immersive tech, storytelling, and community engagement at its core, the league aims to honor skateboarding’s grassroots culture while giving it the infrastructure of a major sport.
Payton will serve as director of VIP relations and own one of the six franchises. He’s joined by co-founders Royce Campbell and Sheldon Lewis, along with a roster of elite skaters including Olympic medalists and X Games champions.
A draft is scheduled for later this year in Los Angeles, and the league’s flagship arena and media hub will be based in Big Bear.
