Indian Basketball has for long been like a netflix series, will INBL Pro provide more on this.
A never ending saga of twists and turns that has palace intrigue, politics and messy fights for power. Like the house of cards we have always felt that the next season would always be better.
Unfortunately, that has never been the case. The best performances have come not from players. There is competition for spots. But that is at the BFI office.
The NBA has for long courted India. And maybe thanks to the fact that it remains unrequited love, the NBA has never stopped courting it.
However, the basketball federation has been steadfast in its refusal to not fall. We know of Indian entrepreneurs owning NBA teams. We know how the NBA tried to aggressively draft unfinished athletes in the hope of garnering interest in the Indian market.
It is safe to say that all this has failed. Yet, we all hope. And the latest instalment of hope comes in the form of the favourite pastime of Indian sports administrators- launching leagues.
Ever since Brendon McCullum lit up a balmy evening in Bengaluru in the April of 2008, every sports administrator has had dreams of launching leagues, frantically announcing auction numbers and having east european models jump up and down on the sidelines, as they look on.
Almost no league has ever made money. Unending losses, lack of interest, lack of TV rights and most importantly a lack of quality on display has meant that all leagues shut down. Some Indian PSUs have had better track records than our leagues and that is saying something.
The INBL pro league is the latest installment of this new hopium. Licensed by the BFI, it will have six franchises, one week of action and hold your breath, the last two days of action in Abu Dhabi.
The Teams are Delhi Dribblers (Coach- David Petroziello 🇨🇦) , Chennai Heat (Coach- Everard Bartlett 🇳🇿), Punjab Warriors (Coach- Andrew Harms 🇦🇺), Mumbai Titans (Coach- Thomas Roijakkers 🇳🇱), Hyderabad Falcons (Coach- Mark Chivers 🇦🇺), Gujarat Stallions (Coach- Luke Kendall 🇦🇺)
We are Indians, nothing like an onsite opportunity to entice us. There will be a heavy focus on athletes below the age of 25.
The teams have all been created and you have global journeymen who are promoted as foreign players. Nothing like the odd white man to make the league look serious you see.
The league, like all other leagues, has lofty goals. But it will do very well to start with simpler goals.
The centers who play for the national team are 6 foot 10 giants who can’t box out, dunk or get rebounds.
Don’t take my word for it. Watch the nationals that the BFI has streamed on its youtube channel.
Most of our guards miss simple layups in game situations. Our long distance shooting languishes in the mid 20s to early 30s. These are fundamental issues.
It requires a year long focus. It requires strength and conditioning. It requires multiple drills on a daily basis with top class technical coaches.
It requires a professional outlook. Instead we have a hurriedly put together one week league. The trailer of this Netflix series looks good (https://inblpro.com/business-model/).
I am not hopeful of sitting through its twelve episodes. We have seen this movie. The ending has never changed.
For Indian Basketball’s sake however, I wish it does.
Its going to be an exciting days for Indian Basketball and we truly wish it reaches the heights.
