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June 30, 2012

India’s Basketball Coach Kenny Natt appointed as Director of Basketball at IMG Academies

Former NBA Coach Kenny Natt, who has been the head coach of India’s Senior National Men’s Basketball squad or over a year now, has been appointed as the Director of Basketball the IMG Academies in Bradenton, Florida, USA. Natt will relocate to Brandenton but will continue to serve the Indian National team.

"After spending a great deal of my career within the NBA, I am thrilled to return to my early passion for youth basketball development and the ability to transform lives through the game I love," remarked Natt. "IMG Academies offers one of the most unique and engaging basketball programs I have ever come across. I am looking forward to rolling up my sleeves as a mentor to these student-athletes, while helping continue to attract and develop the best young talent from around the world."

Natt, who has 15 years of experience as NBA assistant coach to the Utah Jazz, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Sacramento Kings, spent a part of a season as the head coach of the Kings, was named the head coach of India’s basketball team last year. IMG Worldwide, in partnership with Reliance Industries, have a sponsorship deal with the Basketball Federation of India (BFI), and Natt was brought in as a marquee coaching personality to spearhead the basketball programme in India.

Over the past year, Natt has taken the Men’s squad to China for the FIBA Asia Championship and has helped to scout several more young players in the Indian national system. He has overseen national team operations and the promotion of the sport at the grassroots level in India.

Natt will expand his role within the BFI after his relocation to the IMG Academies, which is home to a number of Indian high school basketball players via IMG-Reliance, including 7-footed 16-year-old phenon Satman Singh Bhamara. The academy has student-athletes from more than 85 countries. Within his new role, Natt will oversee the growth and expansion of IMG Academies' basketball program for youth and high school student-athletes, as well as its training programs for post-graduates and professional league-bound players.

"Kenny's experience coaching at the youth level through the professional ranks will prove invaluable to our student-athletes as they look to develop into leaders in the classroom, on the court and in the community," remarked Greg Phillips, IMG Academies' Athletics Director. "We look forward to welcoming Kenny to the IMG family as our basketball program embarks on this new and exciting chapter."

June 27, 2012

Running Deep: 2012 NBA Mock Draft

Number 1 might be obvious at this point, but this isn't a 1 man draft. The 2012 Class will bring a lot of strong new NBA talent on the board: here are my predictions of who will be picked in the lottery on Draft night!

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June 26, 2012

And NOW… We are all Witnesses

Finally, LeBron James is not only the best player in the NBA but also a Champion. 2012 will be the year that he achieved perfection. 2012 was the year that, after a decade of unreal expectations, he finally made us all into ‘witnesses’.

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June 24, 2012

Victory is Freedom: Miami Heat are your 2012 NBA Champions

There is no ‘lighter’ feeling than victory. Victory makes your faults subside. It takes away your stupid decisions, your missed shots, your careless turnovers, your arguments with your coach, and your moments of nervousness. Victory frees you from the pressure to be the best, not just from the critics who hate you, and fans who love you, but also the pressure within yourself. Victory makes you free to be who you are and enjoy it at the top of the pedestal.

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June 22, 2012

Why a World Cup of Basketball would be the best idea ever

Recently, the NBA announced that they have been discussing a prospect with FIBA to launch a rebranded ‘World Cup of Basketball’. The rebranding would make the tournament look and feel very much like FIFA Football World Cup events. It would be the dream of every basketball player to play in this tournament. It would teach children about world geography.

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3rd Asian Beach Games: India’s Women bag 3x3 basketball gold; Men finish 5th

It was a dream finish for India’s 3x3 Women’s basketball team who won a gold medal after defeating China in the Final 17-14 at the 3rd Asian Beach Games in Haiyang, China. It was an undefeated run by Indian eves who won all five of their games including a thrilling comeback victory over the hosts. Geethu Anna Jose and Anitha Paul Durai scored the crucial last points to give India the final victory.

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June 16, 2012

Asia’s Finest: The past, present, and future of Asian Players in the NBA

On the launch of the Basketball Without Borders Asia camp in Tokyo – a 4-day event where current and former NBA players interact and train young Asian hopefuls – the NBA’s Senior Vice President Kim Bohuny held the firm opinion that Asia’s will have definitely have a future presence in the world’s best basketball league.

“I wouldn’t say that Asia is underrepresented,” Bohuny said, “What the NBA would like to do is just really work with FIBA and FIBA Asia to invest in development here. You have many talented young players and I really believe that the future of the region is very bright.”

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June 15, 2012

India's 3x3 basketball teams to participate in 3rd Asian Beach Games

BFI News: India's Senior Men's and Women's teams will participate in the 3x3 Basketball competition at the 3rd Asian Beach Games, which are being held in Haiyang, China, from June 16-22nd. The Basketball tournament at the games will tip off on June 17th and conclude on the 19th.

The Basketball Federation of India (BFI) conducted coaching camps from June 1-15 at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi for Men and at the SAI Center in Bangalore for Women.

12 Men's teams and 8 Women's teams from across Asia will be taking part in the tournament.

Men

Group A: Bhutan, Mongolia, Thailand, Qatar

Group B: Afghanistan, Nepal, Palestine, Turkmenistan

Group C: Bangladesh, China, India, Vietnam

Women

Group A: India, Nepal, Philippines, Thailand

Group B: China, Maldives, Mongolia, Turkmenistan

The BFI released the squad lists - four players and coach - for India's Men's and Women's 3x3 Basketball teams:

Men

  • Vishesh Bhriguvanshi
  • Hareesh Koroth
  • Yadwinder Singh
  • Jagdeep Singh
  • Coach: Kenny Natt

    Women

  • Geethu Anna Jose
  • Anitha Paul Durai
  • Shireen Limaye
  • Kiranjit Kaur
  • Coach: Prem Kumar

    The 3rd Asian Beach Games will feature competitions in 14 sports: Beach Basketball, Beach Football, Beach Handball, Beach Sepaktakraw, Beach Kabbadi, Beach Woodball, Beach Waterpolo, Beach Volleyball, Beach Body Building, Waterski, Sailing, Marathon Swimming, Tent Pegging and Triathlon.

  • June 14, 2012

    Ubuntu Forever

    This may be the last that we have seen the Celtics' core of Garnett, Allen, Pierce, and Rondo - coached by Doc Rivers - together. But if the future is uncertain, the past is certainly glorious. The Celtics embraced the philosophy of 'Ubuntu' to put team over self for five memorable years of success, resilience, and togetherness.

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    June 13, 2012

    2 Indian Youngsters chosen for 2012 Basketball Without Borders – Asia camp in Japan

    Two up-and-coming Indian junior basketball players – Amit Kanarjee (Madhya Pradesh) and Palpreet Singh Brar (Punjab) – have been selected to attend the 2012 Basketball Without Borders (BWB) – Asia camp in Tokyo, Japan. The four-day camp started on Wednesday, June 13 and will conclude on June 17th, 2012.

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    June 12, 2012

    NBA's Train the Trainer programme held in Pune

    NBA Press Release: The National Basketball Association (NBA) hosted the Train the Trainer programme at PYC Gymkhana in Pune on Monday, June 11, with some of the top basketball coaches from the city being part of the training session.

    The Train the Trainers programme, a part of the 2012 Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA basketball development programme in India saw in attendance numerous coaches for the two day session hosted by Troy Justice, Sr. Director, Basketball Operations, NBA International.

    The two day programme featured on-court clinics and classroom sessions aiming to provide the coaches with additional training skills for the development of players from a skills and fitness perspective.

    The sessions also featured the NBA’s first-ever Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA India-focused training video. The 75 minute DVD, shot in India with local players, including videos illustrating fundamental skill development, advanced offensive moves, and fitness training. Each coach attending the ‘Train the Trainer’ session received a copy of the DVD.

    The attending coaches were also informed of the dedicated Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA microsite on NBA.com/India that will provide all coaches and physical education instructors access to videos, photos and other materials to reinforce proper training technique.

    Train the Trainer programmes have already been held in Delhi, Chennai, and Mumbai. The next and final programme of this year will held in Chandigarh.

    June 11, 2012

    NBA Finals Preview: Good vs. Evil

    The NBA Finals are set to showcase a legendary showdown of Good vs. Evil, of the People's Championships and the Public Enemies, Kevin Durant vs. LeBron James, of the Thunder vs. Heat. In what will be 1 of the most exciting Finals matchups yet, I predict who will finally emerge as the 2012 NBA Champion

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    June 10, 2012

    India’s U16s attend coaching camp in Ludhiana to prepare for ‘Children of Asia’ Games

    15 under-16 boys from all parts of India have been chosen by the Basketball Federation of India (BFI) for a 20-day coaching camp at the Ludhiana Basketball Academy, from June 12 – July 1. This coaching camp will help prepare India’s U16 Basketball Team to travel to Russia for the 5th Children of Asia International Sports Games.

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    June 9, 2012

    NBA's Train the Trainer programme held in Mumbai

    NBA Press Release: The National Basketball Association today hosted the Train the Trainer programme at St. Dominic Savio School with some of the top coaches from Mumbai being part of the training session.

    The Train the Trainers programme, a part of the 2012 Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA basketball development programme in India saw in attendance numerous coaches for the two day session hosted by Troy Justice, Senior Director of Basketball Operations, NBA International.

    The two day programme featured on-court clinics and classroom sessions aiming to provide the coaches with additional training skills for the development of players from a skills and fitness perspective.

    The sessions also featured the NBA’s first-ever Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA India-focused training video. The 75 minute DVD, shot in India with local players, including videos illustrating fundamental skill development, advanced offensive moves, and fitness training. Each coach attending the ‘Train the Trainer’ session received a copy of the DVD.

    The attending coaches were also informed of the dedicated Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA microsite on NBA.com/India that will provide all coaches and physical education instructors access to videos, photos and other materials to reinforce proper training technique.

    The Train the Trainer programme has already been held in Delhi and Chennai and will be held in Pune and Chandigarh also this season.

    June 8, 2012

    Destiny's Children

    Without any major trades or free-agent signings, the Thunder went from the worst team in the West to Western Champions in 4 years. Join me to follow the timeline of the Sonics/Thunder from that fateful 2007 Draft till their biggest moment of truth – the 2012 Finals – and you’ll begin to see why there’s a sense of destiny around this young squad.

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    June 5, 2012

    Chhattisgarh claim double glory at Junior National Basketball Championship in Puducherry

    Stamping their authority over basketball in India, both the boys and the girls under-18 squads from the state of Chhattisgarh demolished their way through the 63rd Junior National Basketball Championship for Boys & Girls in Puducherry, ending the 8-day tournament by lifting the winner’s trophies in both divisions on Wednesday, May 30th. The tournament, which tipped off on May 23rd at Puducherry’s Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium, concluded with two memorable final games last night.

    Click here to read the full article!

    Die a Hero, Live a Villain

    "You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become a villain."

    Kevin Durant seems to be the last remaining "unhated" superstar. But take a look at some of your favourite NBA players and try and find one who, eventually, hasn’t found his critics. These superstars are some of the best in the world at what they do and have more admirers than the average player. But there has been a price to pay for fame: the more time someone spends in the spotlight, the more their faults are highlighted. Admiration rises exponentially with criticism. Will the media and the cynic inside us allow Kevin Durant be the 'People's Champ' forever?

    Click here to read full story

    June 4, 2012

    Chennai hosts 2012 Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA 'Train the Trainer' programme

    NBA Press Release: The National Basketball Association (NBA) in India hosted the Train the Trainer programme at JJ Stadium in Chennai on Sunday, June 3, with some of the top coaches from the city participating in the training session.

    The Train the Trainers program, a part of the 2012 Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA basketball development programme in India saw in attendance numerous coaches for the two day session hosted by Troy Justice, Sr. Director, Basketball Operations, NBA International.

    The two day programme featured on-court clinics and classroom sessions aiming to provide the coaches with additional training skills for the development of players from a skills and fitness perspective.

    The sessions also featured the NBA’s first-ever Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA India-focused training video. The 75 minute DVD, shot in India with local players, including videos illustrating fundamental skill development, advanced offensive moves, and fitness training. Each coach attending the ‘Train the Trainer’ session received a copy of the DVD.

    The attending coaches were also informed of the dedicated Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA microsite on NBA.com/India that will provide all coaches and physical education instructors access to videos, photos and other materials to reinforce proper training technique.

    The Train the Trainer programme will also be held in Mumbai, Pune and Chandigarh.

    June 1, 2012

    First step to greatness: New Orleans Hornets win the 2012 Draft Lottery

    By winning the draft lottery, the New Orleans Hornets have a chance to take the first step to greatness. Their is no mystery in it - Anthony Davis will go first on June 28th. The real suspense of the draft will begin with the second pick.

    Click here to read the full article.