“We have something that we think that every kid should love, and that’s eating his vegetables and eating something that’s healthy.”

NBA Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen is launching a ‘health forward’ vegan popcorn brand that ‘sets a higher standard for plant-based snacks’. ⁠⁠

The former basketball player’s new venture is called Husk and is created in partnership with professional chef R.C. Mills.

The new plant-based treat, which took two and a half years of research and development is organic, non-GMO, and gluten-free.

It will be available in six flavours including moringa⁠, yacon (a sweet-tasting root vegetable) and turmeric⁠, kale and broccoli⁠, spirulina and dragon fruit⁠, matcha and coconut water, and cayenne and ginger⁠.

Husk is set to release on 6 July and will be available at speciality retailers on the West Coast, and online at Amazon and HUSKorganics.com.

‘Hit a home run’

“It’s been pretty much a long journey getting all the R&D and everything that it takes to bring a product to the marketplace,” the six times NBA champion told PEOPLE.

“It’s new for me… but I think we’ve created something very good and very special and healthy.”

He added: “We have something that we think that every kid should love, and that’s eating his vegetables and eating something that’s healthy.

“We think we’ve hit a home run with Husk.”

Vegan athletes

Pippen isn’t the only NBA star to endorse plant-based living.

Earlier this year, NBA Legend DeAndre Jordan landed himself a vegan cooking show on a major TV network.

The show Cooking Clean on PlayersTV showcases Jordan’s culinary skills as he shares a slew of healthy vegan recipes alongside guest chefs.

 Meanwhile in January this year, NBA player Enes Kanter announced he is looking to switch to a plant-based lifestyle.

The basketball player said learning about factory farming during quarantine shattered his heart and compelled him to ditch animal products.

“You know, we always thought eating more meat is going to make us stronger, gonna make us faster, leaner and everything I had learned was wrong,” he told PETA.

“That was the first time I decided we need change and change cannot wait anymore.”

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