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"We opened our first office in India in 2011 but we had to
understand the market place," NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum
said after launching the academy at Jaypee Greens in Greater
Noida.
"We recognised there was opportunity for us now to bring
NBA-style coaching, development and training to kids around the
world who may not have access to that."
It follows the launch of academies in Hangzhou, Jinan and Urumqi
in China and in Thies in Senegal.
The NBA's plans also include launching a global academy in
Canberra.
A total of 21 male players are to receive NBA-level coaching and
scholarship at the academy.
The number of international players in the NBA has been
increasing, with a record 113 on opening night rosters for the
2016-17 season.
The NBA has an Indian owner in Sacramento Kings Vivek Ranadive,
who was born in Mumbai, but a player to galvanize a fan base has
yet to arrive.
Satnam Singh Bhamara, the son of a farmer, became the first
Indian to be drafted into the NBA when the Dallas Mavericks used
the 52nd pick on the 7-foot-2-inch centre in 2015.
"This initiative is not about finding more sponsors or marketing
partners. It's about developing elite basketball prospects,"
Tatum said.
"Here we have 21 of the best prospects in India. What we want to
do is make sure they reach their full potentials, whatever that
is."
(Reporting by Amlan Chakraborty in New Delhi; editing by Peter
Rutherford/Sudipto Ganguly)
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