Speaker Profile

Samin Odhwani (pronounced suh-MEEN odd-WAH-nee) joined Major League Pickleball (MLP presented by DoorDash) as Commissioner ahead of the 2025 season after most recently working with Thirty Five Ventures (35V), the family office of Kevin Durant and sister company to Boardroom. He served as General Manager of MLP’s then Brooklyn Aces - a franchise owned by Durant, Rich Kleiman, Drake, Michael B. Jordan, and other key investors - in 2023 and 2024.

As MLP Commissioner, he oversees all aspects of on-court competition, in addition to strengthening the MLP brand through its internal and external content distribution arms, growing its business model, and ensuring alignment and maximizing synergies alongside the UPA brand, under the leadership of UPA CEO Connor Pardoe.

In addition to his roles with 35V and the Brooklyn Aces, Odhwani also brings experience from his time with the National Basketball Association (NBA) and Octagon, where his focus centered on strategy & innovation, investing in emerging sports leagues, and conducting media rights valuations.

Odhwani also serves as United Pickleball Association (UPA) Chief Strategy Officer, leading big-picture strategy related to competition, distribution partnerships, marketing, and other key focuses for UPA, MLP, and the PPA Tour. He and his family reside in Dallas, Texas.