As the NBA and basketball as a sport in general continue to become more and more prominent across the globe, the league and commissioner Adam Silver are making it their mission to spread professional basketball to other foreign countries. After years in the works, a professional basketball league will be coming to Africa in 2020 and now, plans for another league overseas may be coming together.
According to ESPN’s Marc Spears, Silver is considering starting a professional league in India. Kings Owner Vivek Randive has had talks with Silver about a league in India, and Silver reportedly is open to the idea. Silver has already discussed building arenas with India’s prime minister and aims to launch the league within the next five years.
#Kings owner @Vivek tells @TheUndefeated that he has had conversations with #NBA commisioner Adam Silver about starting a 12-team professional basketball league in India with the same vision as the upcoming NBA-run Basketball Africa League that begins play in 2020.
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpearsESPN) October 4, 2019
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
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
Of course, the NBA is set to play its first pair of preseason games in India in league history this upcoming weekend with two renditions of Pacers vs. Kings. These games in India could be important, as a similar preseason game in Africa years ago is what propelled the creation of the BAL (Basketball Africa League).
India clearly has a lot of work left to do before the creation of a full-blown league, but it’s certainly something we may see in the not too distant future.
