Hoopdarshan Episode 105: Marc Pulles on NBA Academy India's brightest prospects

Over the past few years, the NBA Academy India has helped a number of bright Indian prospects take the next leap into placements abroad, include G-League's Princepal Singh, Amaan Sandhu, Riyanshu Negi, and more. Director of NBA India's Basketball Operations Marc Pulles joins Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok on Hoopdarshan to discuss his grassroots work in India, Princepal's improvements, and coaching Luka Doncic. 

Marc Pulles Llopis has been a basketball coach for over twenty years, including working with the youth basketball teams of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Andorra, in his homeland, Spain. He has served in NBA Operations in India for nearly five years, leading the growth of the NBA's Academy in Greater Noida, grassroots initiatives like the Reliance Foundation Jr. NBA programme, and more. 

Also in Episode 105, Kaushik and Karan discuss good news in Indian basketball, the 3BL league, and preview the second round of the NBA playoffs.

Hoopdarshan is the truest voice of Indian basketball, and since we're such hopeless fans of the game, it will become the voice of everything basketball related we love, from the NBA to international hoops, too. On every episode of Hoopdarshan, we will be inviting a special guest to interview or chat to about a variety of topics. With expert insight from some of the brightest and most-involved people in the world of Indian basketball, we hope to bring this conversation to a many more interested fans, players, and followers of the game.

Make sure to follow Hoopdarshan on Soundcloud or search for 'Hoopdarshan' on the iTunes Store! Auto-sync Hoopdarshan to your preferred podcast app NOW!

Hoopdarshan can be found on...

• - iTunes: Hoopdarshan 
• - Hoopdarshan on Soundcloud 
• - On Twitter: @Hoopdarshan 
• - Facebook.com/Hoopdarshan 

Hoopdarshan 104: 2021 NBA Playoffs Preview with Akshay Manwani

Eight First Round Series. Eight BIG Questions. In Episode 104 of Hoopdarshan, NBA expert Akshay Manwani joins Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok to discuss the end-of-season award winners and help preview the playoffs with the most pressing questions of the First Round: How many Wizards does it take to stop Embiid? What does Giannis do to jump up the next level? Who is the second-best Maverick? And lots, lots more. 

Hoopdarshan is the truest voice of Indian basketball, and since we're such hopeless fans of the game, it will become the voice of everything basketball related we love, from the NBA to international hoops, too. On every episode of Hoopdarshan, we will be inviting a special guest to interview or chat to about a variety of topics. With expert insight from some of the brightest and most-involved people in the world of Indian basketball, we hope to bring this conversation to a many more interested fans, players, and followers of the game.

Make sure to follow Hoopdarshan on Soundcloud or search for 'Hoopdarshan' on the iTunes Store! Auto-sync Hoopdarshan to your preferred podcast app NOW!

Hoopdarshan can be found on...

• - iTunes: Hoopdarshan 
• - Hoopdarshan on Soundcloud 
• - On Twitter: @Hoopdarshan 
• - Facebook.com/Hoopdarshan

Hoopdarshan 103: Mirin Fader on Princepal Singh and Giannis Antetokounmpo

Princepal Singh became the third Indian to play in the G-League. Last month, Mirin Fader wrote a story on The Ringer about Princepal, his journey from Punjab to the G-League Ignite, and more. Fader joins us on Episode 103 of the Indian basketball podcast, Hoopdarshan to give the story behind the story: her impressions of Princepal, his current situation, and her research into Punjabi pinni. Plus, she shares details from her highly-anticipated biography of the Greek Freak, Giannis Antetokounmpo. 

Mirin Fader is a staff writer for The Ringer, writing long-form, human-interest features on all sports. She’s the author of the forthcoming book, GIANNIS: The Improbable Rise of an NBA MVP, based off her profile of two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and his youngest brother Alex Antetokounmpo. The book will be released August 10, 2021 by Hachette Books. 

 Also in Episode 103, hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok discuss India's upcoming FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers, the 2021 FIBA Asia Women's Cup, and share thoughts from around the NBA, including Jamal Murray's injury and Steve Nash's crazy first year as a head coach.

 

Hoopdarshan is the truest voice of Indian basketball, and since we're such hopeless fans of the game, it will become the voice of everything basketball related we love, from the NBA to international hoops, too. On every episode of Hoopdarshan, we will be inviting a special guest to interview or chat to about a variety of topics. With expert insight from some of the brightest and most-involved people in the world of Indian basketball, we hope to bring this conversation to a many more interested fans, players, and followers of the game.

Make sure to follow Hoopdarshan on Soundcloud or search for 'Hoopdarshan' on the iTunes Store! Auto-sync Hoopdarshan to your preferred podcast app NOW!

Hoopdarshan can be found on...

• - iTunes: Hoopdarshan 
• - Hoopdarshan on Soundcloud 
• - On Twitter: @Hoopdarshan 
• - Facebook.com/Hoopdarshan 

Hoopdarshan Episode 102: Vishesh Bhriguvanshi Keeps Winning

In Episode 102, Team India captain Vishesh Bhriguvanshi returns to Hoopdarshan to discuss his miraculous game-winner in the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers against Iraq, his dream come true with the Arjuna Award, his recent biography, and that viral ‘pawri’ video. Hosted by Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok. 

Guard/forward for Team India and ONGC, Vishesh Bhriguvanshi has been one of India's best basketball players for over a decade, and recently led India to a 1-1 record in the latest window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers. Hailing from Varanasi, Bhriguvanshi was conferred the prestigious Arjuna Award last year. 

In Episode 102, Kaushik and Karan also discuss NBA Academy India's Harshwardhan Tomar receiving a scholarship to play in the US and share their opinions in the most wide-open NBA MVP race in years.

Hoopdarshan is the truest voice of Indian basketball, and since we're such hopeless fans of the game, it will become the voice of everything basketball related we love, from the NBA to international hoops, too. On every episode of Hoopdarshan, we will be inviting a special guest to interview or chat to about a variety of topics. With expert insight from some of the brightest and most-involved people in the world of Indian basketball, we hope to bring this conversation to a many more interested fans, players, and followers of the game.

Make sure to follow Hoopdarshan on Soundcloud or search for 'Hoopdarshan' on the iTunes Store! Auto-sync Hoopdarshan to your preferred podcast app NOW!

Hoopdarshan can be found on...

• - iTunes: Hoopdarshan 
• - Hoopdarshan on Soundcloud 
• - On Twitter: @Hoopdarshan 
• - Facebook.com/Hoopdarshan 

 

Hoopdarshan Episode 101: All Star and Midseason Musings with Ashwin Gopinath

The 2021 NBA All Stars have already been named, and of course, we have some thoughts to share. Hoopdarshan Episode 101 features co-hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok in conversation with Ashwin Gopinath, co-host of the Ball is Bae podcast, to discuss the names that made it, the names that didn't, and answer some questions about what have gotten right and wrong in the NBA season so far. Including the all important question: Who will be the last pick in the All Star draft? 

 In addition, Kaushik and Karan recap India's performance at the recent window of FIBA Asia Cup 2021 Qualifiers, a two-game slate that included Vishesh Bhriguvanshi's epic "floating three-pointer" to give India a victory over Iraq. Plus, we check in with the most-recent Indian presence in the NBA's G-League, Princepal Singh. 

Hoopdarshan is the truest voice of Indian basketball, and since we're such hopeless fans of the game, it will become the voice of everything basketball related we love, from the NBA to international hoops, too. On every episode of Hoopdarshan, we will be inviting a special guest to interview or chat to about a variety of topics. With expert insight from some of the brightest and most-involved people in the world of Indian basketball, we hope to bring this conversation to a many more interested fans, players, and followers of the game.

Make sure to follow Hoopdarshan on Soundcloud or search for 'Hoopdarshan' on the iTunes Store! Auto-sync Hoopdarshan to your preferred podcast app NOW!

Hoopdarshan can be found on...

• - iTunes: Hoopdarshan 
• - Hoopdarshan on Soundcloud 
• - On Twitter: @Hoopdarshan 
• - Facebook.com/Hoopdarshan 

Hoopdarshan Episode 100: Century Celebrations with Padma Shri Anitha Pauldurai

It's episode 100! A time for the Hoopdarshan, India's truest basketball podcast, to celebrate our century. In this landmark episode, co-hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok discuss the podcast's highlights over the past 5 years, interview Indian basketball's Padma Shri awardee Anitha Pauldurai, and add the film Chhalaang to the Indian Basketball Movie Database. 

A resident of Chennai, Pauldurai is one of the greatest hoopers in Indian basketball history. The guard/forward has been a regular in the national team for nearly two decades, and has captained India to a number of past glories. She became only the second basketball player in India to receive the Padma Shri award in 2021. 

Episode 100 also features a conversation about India Men's upcoming FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers, a shake-up in the domestic basketball structure, the exploits of Princepal Singh for G-League's Ignite, and much more.

   

 

Hoopdarshan is the truest voice of Indian basketball, and since we're such hopeless fans of the game, it will become the voice of everything basketball related we love, from the NBA to international hoops, too. On every episode of Hoopdarshan, we will be inviting a special guest to interview or chat to about a variety of topics. With expert insight from some of the brightest and most-involved people in the world of Indian basketball, we hope to bring this conversation to a many more interested fans, players, and followers of the game.

Make sure to follow Hoopdarshan on Soundcloud or search for 'Hoopdarshan' on the iTunes Store! Auto-sync Hoopdarshan to your preferred podcast app NOW!

Hoopdarshan can be found on...

• - iTunes: Hoopdarshan 
• - Hoopdarshan on Soundcloud 
• - On Twitter: @Hoopdarshan 
• - Facebook.com/Hoopdarshan 

Hoopdarshan Episode 99: Aparna Rajkumar on Women's basketball and broadcasting in India

A true hoops lifer, Aparna Rajkumar
has been the voice behind many of top Indian basketball broadcast over the years, commenting on national and international tournaments and hosting India's top women's players on her online show, 'Stree Got Game'. Rajkumar joins Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok on the Hoopdarshan podcast to discuss basketball broadcasting in country, challenges faced by India's top female players, watching Magic Johnson on the court, and the Indian women's GOAT.

Rajkumar is a sportscaster and a former multi-sport athlete. As a broadcaster, she has commentated on multiple Indian national championships for Doordarshan, the FIBA Asia Championship in Chennai, 3x3BL in India, Khelo India Games, and a number of other national, state, and invitational tournaments. She played basketball for Tamil Nadu state at al the levels.  

 In addition to our special guest interview, Kaushik and Karan also recap India's recent showing at the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifying window and preview the upcoming NBA season. 

Hoopdarshan is the truest voice of Indian basketball, and since we're such hopeless fans of the game, it will become the voice of everything basketball related we love, from the NBA to international hoops, too. On every episode of Hoopdarshan, we will be inviting a special guest to interview or chat to about a variety of topics. With expert insight from some of the brightest and most-involved people in the world of Indian basketball, we hope to bring this conversation to a many more interested fans, players, and followers of the game.

Make sure to follow Hoopdarshan on Soundcloud or search for 'Hoopdarshan' on the iTunes Store! Auto-sync Hoopdarshan to your preferred podcast app NOW!

Hoopdarshan can be found on...

• - iTunes: Hoopdarshan 
• - Hoopdarshan on Soundcloud 
• - On Twitter: @Hoopdarshan 
• - Facebook.com/Hoopdarshan