It’s a big question – How did we get here?

How is it possible that nearly 20 million Americans play pickleball on a regular basis and millions more play casually?

What had to happen in order for the professional game to be regularly broadcast live on major network television?

Who would have thought even five years ago that thousands of people would walk away from whatever field they were in before to pursue a full-time career in pickleball, which is now a $2 billion industry.

The Kitchen set out to answer all of those questions and more recently, speaking to influential voices who have been in the pickleball community for decades. Here’s what they said.