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. 🧢 Pickleballers Hat: https://shop.thekitchenpickle.com/pro... Add us on Instagram:   / pickleballers     / thekitchenpickleball     / roscoebellamy     / jpaulthechef   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