NBA makes India debut as Kings take on Pacers in Mumbai
Deepankar Sharda
Tribune News Service
Mumbai, October 3
In a first, India will host pre-season National Basketball Association (NBA) matches between Sacramento Kings and Indiana Pacers here on October 4 and 5. The two-day contest is a bid to popularise NBA and basketball in India.
Sacramento Kings’ owner Vivek Ranadive is the driving force behind NBA making its debut in his hometown, Mumbai. “The game here in Mumbai will allow NBA to open their interest for the next 10 years. India would be having more arenas, more players and more coaches to promote the sport. NBA has a long association with India, but this is the right time to push it ahead in a big way,” said Ranadive, a Mumbai-born American businessman. “NBA commissioner Adam Silver was of the view that these games are must to attract the Indian youth towards the sport. I think in coming years basketball would be the second-most popular sport in India. It will be difficult to replace cricket but basketball and India are meant to be together. I just hope NBA turns the fortune of Indian youngsters in a big way,” added Ranadive. Sacramento Kings coach Luke Walton said the players are excited to play in Mumbai, “It was a kind of rest day today and the players were asked just to sweat a bit. The pre-season games are equally important as the major tournaments,” said Walton.
