A non-boring interview with Ben Johns (s*** you probably didn't know)

 

An Inside Look at Pickleball Phenom Ben Johns

Exclusive interview reveals personal side of dominant player

He's the top-ranked professional pickleball player in the world and has won over $300,000 in prize money, but there's more to Ben Johns than meets the eye. In an exclusive sit-down interview with pickleball influencer Will, Johns opens up about his life off the court.

1. 00:55, Do you also live in Tim Klitch’s backyard?, Johns jokes about not actually living in fellow pro player Tim Klitch's backyard in Florida, though he does spend a lot of time training there.
2. 01:13, Are you tired of these media appearances and interviews?, He says he actually enjoys doing interviews and promoting the sport whenever he can.
3. 01:33, What is the most boring thing about you?, Johns reveals that he is actually quite boring, enjoying relaxing activities like reading and watching shows in his free time.
4. 01:58, Video games? Past, Present, & Future, He was really into video games growing up, especially simulation games, but doesn't play them as much anymore. He thinks VR games could be interesting to try in the future.
5. 02:40, Play Trading Card Games, Johns collected Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh! cards when he was younger. He even competed in some tournaments.
6. 03:41, Back to needing out about Magic/TCG, He clarifies that he played the Magic: The Gathering card game, not Pokémon. He had some valuable cards but has since sold his collection.
7. 04:44, What peeves you the most?, Small things like people chewing loudly or leaving cupboard doors open really bother him.
8. 05:40, Fan of Formula 1, Johns follows Formula One racing as a fan and admires the competitive spirit of the drivers.
9. 06:44, Playing Padel?, He wants to try out padel, the Spanish racquet sport that combines tennis and squash. He thinks it could help his pickleball game.
10. 07:17, INTERRUPTION 2 (Collin Johns), Johns' brother Collin unexpectedly joins the interview.
11. 07:46, INTERRUPTION 3 Anna Bright also makes a cameo.
12. 08:02, On a scale of 1-10, how sick are you talking about PB?, Johns rates his obsession with pickleball a 9 or 10 out of 10. He loves growing the sport.
13. 08:29, Favorite type of cheese?, His favorite cheese is a nice aged gouda. He could eat cheese with every meal.
14. 09:33, Pineapple on pizza?, Johns thinks fruit should not be on pizza. He has strong opinions about proper pizza toppings.
15. 09:47, What pro sport would you play other than PB?, If he wasn't playing pro pickleball, Johns thinks he would enjoy playing pro tennis or golf.
16. 09:58, INTERRUPTION 4...and 5 (OFFICE STAFF), More surprise cameos by Will's office staff.
17. 10:37, Other pro sports you would play?, Johns adds that he would consider trying to go pro in table tennis or badminton if not pickleball. The skills translate well.
18. 11:11, What animal would you be?, If he could be any animal, Johns would want to be a bird and fly wherever he wants.
19. 11:29, INTERRUPTION 6, The shenanigans continue.
20. 11:36, Back to Animals, Getting the interview back on track, Johns elaborates that being a bird seems peaceful and free.
21. 12:42, What actual animal terrifies Pickleball Will, When asked shares that snakes and komodo dragons creep Will out.
22. 13:40, Favorite movie of all time?, Johns' all-time favorite film is The Dark Knight. He praises Heath Ledger's iconic performance as The Joker.
23. 14:11, Favorite movie or shows in recent memory?, Some recent favorites have been Everything Everywhere All at Once and the Netflix series Wednesday.
24. 15:23, Favorite destination you have been to?, His favorite place he's traveled to is New Zealand. The beautiful landscapes took his breath away.
25. 16:05, Any other places you would like to travel to?, The next place Johns wants to visit is Indonesia for the culture, scenery and wildlife.
26. 16:47, INTERRUPTION 7 (Gordan...again), Gordan returns to interrupt yet again.
27. 16:55, Will tells story of time in Japan, Will shares a humorous story about getting lost on the Tokyo subway system.
28. 17:49, Greatest weakness on the PB Court?, Johns reveals that he doesn't think he has any technical or physical weaknesses in his game, but sometimes struggles mentally when he gets frustrated.
29. 18:34, Biggest rival?, Right now his biggest rival is fellow American professional Zane Navratil. They have battled in numerous major finals recently.
30. 19:11, Thoughts on the growth of Pickleball?, He talks excitedly about the incredible growth of pickleball and its emerging professional scene. The future is very bright.
31. 19:42, Parting words of wisdom?, In parting, Johns urges aspiring players to believe in themselves, work hard and remember to have fun on the court. Skill will come in time

In the end, while Johns is an indomitable force inside the pickleball lines, outside them he's just a normal guy who enjoys relaxing, traveling, engaging with fans and pushing the sport he loves to new heights. This glimpse beyond the fame reveals an artist totally devoted to his craft.