The NBA is looking to further expand its global reach when the Sacramento Kings and Indiana Pacers on Friday become the first teams from a major North American sports league to play a game India, and the league is hoping play a lot more games there in the future.
Kings owner Vivek Ranadive told Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated that he and NBA commissioner Adam Silver have been having discussions about launching a 12-team professional basketball league in India. The concept would be similar to the NBA-run Basketball Africa League, which has been in the works for years and is set to begin play in 2020.
NBA commisioner Adam Silver says there is “serious consideration to the launch of a league” in India. Silver also helps that future NBA and WNBA players are developed in India. Vivek likes the name of “Monsoon Madness” for a league & he talked about building arenas with India PM. https://t.co/0hHqPV0GbA
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpearsESPN) October 4, 2019
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Silver said the goal is to have a league in India up and running in five years, but there are some obstacles to overcome. The proper infrastructure is not currently in place, which is why the NBA had to bring things like its own hardwood and scoreboard for the exhibition games on Friday and Saturday.
Silver says arena infrastructure must be improved in India before a league could be launched here. NBA brought in a hardwood basketball floor, scoreboard and more to the arena in Mumbai for game tonight. Silver says he hopes to launch a pro basketball league in India in 5 years. https://t.co/HQUPAhlXuF
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpearsESPN) October 4, 2019
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The NBA hosted its first exhibition game in Africa in 2015, so hoping for a similar timeline for the launch of a league in India makes sense.
