The National Basketball Association, (NBA) USA's glitzy professional basketball league, is all set to carve a huge presence in India.
The National Basketball Association, (NBA) USA's glitzy professional basketball league, is all set to carve a huge presence in India.
New York-based Akash Jain, NBA's entertainment directoru00a0 for international development, spoke to MiD DAY en route his visit to Chennai for the FIBA Asian Women Championships.
Excerpts from an interview.
Given India's low basketball standards, lack of awareness and abysmal facilities for the game, why does the NBA think it has a market here?
The gameu00a0 is widely played in the metros and many schools have outdoor courts. What we need is more indoor facilities though and for this we are in talks with some construction houses to include
basketball courts in new residential townships.
Can NBA have a similar impact on youth here like English football or F1?
You'd be surprised at the level of awareness and following in key metros. Kobe Bryant is a role model here. We already have NBA merchandise in stores here but we have to create a basketball culture.
u00a0
China already has players in NBA. Do you see an Indian make it to NBA soon?
Basketball is the No 1 sport in China but this did not happen overnight. We've been in China for 25 years. We are just starting off in India and getting an Indian player into NBA is our long-term plan.
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Any plans to bring down any NBA stars here?
It could be as early as November but I can't name the player now.
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