Matt Kiatipis of Newmarket turns streetball into a global career approaching seven figures

Matt Kiatipis, known online as “MK,” turned viral GTA streetball videos into an international career he says is approaching seven figures in 2025, with paid tours and ongoing contracts. The rise reflects broader trends: Environics Analytics reports 89 per cent of Canadians use social media weekly and Canada’s creator economy now includes roughly 900,000 people, the article notes.

Matt Kiatipis, who goes by "MK" online, has transformed competitive streetball in the Greater Toronto Area into an international career that he says is approaching seven figures. He is 25 and grew up in Newmarket, Ontario, playing prep school basketball in North Carolina and later Division 2 basketball at Simon Fraser University. Kiatipis rose to wider attention through viral videos from park takeovers and games at Markham's Aaniin Community Centre. His story is presented alongside data showing heavy social media use in Canada and a growing creator economy. Key facts: - Kiatipis says he built a full-time business from streetball content, reporting revenue that is over six figures and "approximately, this year (2025) is approaching seven figures." - He is widely known online as "MK" and gained early attention for highlight plays, including dunks and one-on-one matchups that went viral. - He played prep school basketball in North Carolina and NCAA Division 2 basketball for Simon Fraser University, and spent time playing professionally in Costa Rica before returning to Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic. - Early inspiration came from other creators such as Kevon Watt and K-Showtime; Kiatipis and peers used posted park locations to draw large crowds to games. - He says his team remains intentionally small, and that paid international tours (including a Europe tour) and incoming contracts have funded further travel and appearances. - Jenna Jacobson, a professor at Toronto Metropolitan University, is quoted saying Kiatipis has been purposeful in capitalizing on social media and noting Canadian creators often face fewer monetization tools and greater reliance on sponsorships. Summary: Kiatipis’s work has turned local streetball into a global entertainment and business project, with paid tours and ongoing contract offers that he says fund international travel. His rise is described as part of a larger shift in which many Canadians use social platforms and an estimated 900,000 people now participate in the creator economy.