Mumbai, July 03: Notwithstanding the lower ranking of
the Indian basketball team, two-time National Basketball
Association (NBA) all star Baron Davis feels the country has
enough talent to dominate the sport in the coming years.
"There is great potential in this country, which is one
of the leading emerging nations. In the coming years, I see
India playing a huge role (in the sport)," the Los Angeles
Clippers guard told reporters here today.
"In the coming years, you will see a great influx of
Indians moving abroad for a career in the sport. However, for
it to happen a lot of patience and effort is required. India
is No. 46 on the basketball chart, it has a lot of scope to
grow, said Davis, who was here to tip off the NBA's fan event
in India.”
"Hopefully we will soon reach a point when we have 2-3
guys from this country in the NBA," he said.
The NBA star, who conducted youth clinics here, said it
was important to teach kids the correct way to play the game.
"It is important that we teach them the fundamentals of
the games, the correct way to play and continue to develop
their skills," he said.
Davis hoped that with the NBA setting an office in India,
funds would flow for the sport in the country.
"NBA will have an office in India within a year.
Hopefully that will bring in corporate sponsorship," he said.
Davis, who heads 'Verso Entertainment', said he was
looking forward to make a basketball film next year.
"I might also produce basketball content for Indian
television," he said.
The NBA player said he was hooked on to the loop game
ever since he was three-years-old when his grandfather built a
basketball court for him.
"Basketball is an outlet for me to stay away from
violence, drugs and all negative things. It is a source of
creativity for me," he said.
Bureau Report
First Published: Friday, July 03, 2009, 20:56