Hoopdarshan Episode 85: Massive NBA India Games Blowout Extravaganza

Welcome to the biggest Hoopdarshan yet, literally, figuratively, metaphorically. Episode 85 is dedicated to the historic NBA India Games in Mumbai. In this jam-packed release, we include interviews with Vivek Ranadive, Jason Williams, Rajesh Sethi, Vanja Cernivec, Diane Gotua, Detlef Schrempf, Domantas Sabonis, Akshay Manwani, and Ridhima Pathak. In addition, co-hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok discuss the experience of the games in Mumbai first-hand and offer their thoughts on the ongoing NBA-China-Morey controversy.

Breakdown of our guests in this episode:

• Jason "White Choc" Williams: Sacramento Kings Legend
• Rajesh Sethi: Managing Director of NBA India
• Vanja Cernivec: NBA Basketball Operations for the Europe Middle East Africa Region
• Diane Gotua: VP of NBA's Global Business Operations and Interim MD of NBA India
• Detlef Schremf: Indiana Pacers Legend
• Domantas Sabonis: Indiana Pacers Forward
• Akshay Manwani: NBA India Expert and Hindi Commentator for Sony/Ten
• Ridhima Pathak: Broadcaster
• Vivek Ranadive: Owner of Kings

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!

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

NBA announces marketing partnership with Indian multiplex chain INOX

For true fans, the most intense NBA games are more entertaining as any blockbuster or award-winning movie. There's drama, there's action, there's suspense, there are gasps, cheers, some comedy, some heroes, some villains, and a whole lotta fun.

So, it only makes sense that the NBA's next partnership in India is with a multiplex group, one that will bring the NBA brand close to where you watch your favourite movies.

On Friday, right in the midst of the NBA Finals, the league in India announced its marketing partnership with India's second-largest multiplex chain, INOX Leisure Ltd. (INOX), with plans to integrate the NBA into select cinemas across Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai and Pune.

As the NBA's Exclusive Multiplex Partner in India, INOX will introduce numerous NBA elements in and around its cinema houses, including co-branded inflatables and popcorn buckets, NBA posters and NBA jersey wall displays. INOX will host screening parties for select games throughout the NBA season, along with meet-and-greet sessions with former NBA players.

"With a clear focus on curating the best experience for our patrons, we have continuously been working on partnerships to help us elevate their cinema-going experience," said Alok Tandon, CEO of INOX Leisure Limited. "This partnership with the NBA adds a global touch to our brand offering and a new dimension to INOX, and we invite our patrons across the country to come forward and experience the NBA for themselves."

"We are thrilled to partner with a dynamic brand like INOX to further connect with our fans in India," said Diane Gotua, NBA Vice President of Global Business Operations. "This is an ideal way for us to generate awareness and engagement for the NBA at a large scale and reach new and existing fans alike across the country."

This is fantastic news: not only will it increase visibility of the NBA's brand and players across to a new urban movie-going audience in India, but it will also allow for the exciting possibility of live game showings on the big screen. Of course, the timing of live games will always remain an issue all those time zones away from North America, but the league has already introduced new schedules in the course of the last few seasons to better suit primetime viewing hours for Indian fans. Hopefully, by the time next year's Finals roll around, I'll get a chance to watch the top teams in a 'movie theatre' atmosphere.

NBA Finals to be live-streamed in India for the first time on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube

The 2019 NBA Finals tipped off earlier today, with the Raptors scoring a big Game 1 victory over the Warriors. But for NBA fans in India, thousands of kilometres away from Toronto, the league has left a special gift that will delight fans of either team.

For the first time ever, the NBA Finals are set to be live-streamed in India on the NBA's accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube in English commentary. This new option will hopefully help the league many more fans who don't have access to the NBA's regular live broadcasts in India on cable. Of course, the cable broadcasts will continue too, with live games in both English and Hindi commentary on Sony ESPN/Ten Network.

Throughout the regular season, SONY featured more than 300 live NBA games across their channels.

"We are always looking to provide our passionate fans in India with more ways to experience the excitement of our games," said Diane Gotua, NBA Vice President of Global Business Operations. "Streaming this historic matchup on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, along with broadcasting the games across SONY, will deliver unprecedented access to the NBA Finals."

NBA Finals Schedule in India

• Game 1: Friday, May 31, 6:30 a.m. IST
• Game 2: Monday, June 3, 5:30 a.m. IST
• Game 3: Thursday, June 6, 6:30 a.m. IST
• Game 4: Saturday, June 8, 6:30 a.m. IST
• Game 5: Tuesday, June 11, 6:30 a.m. IST*
• Game 6: Friday, June 14, 6:30 a.m. IST*
• Game 7: Monday, June 17, 5:30 a.m. IST*

*if necessary

NBA India's Managing Director Yannick Colaco to step down from his position

For the past handful of years, the NBA's brand has grown in India exponentially and in a variety of players, like an uber-talented offensive player finding a myriad of ways to land the ball in the basket. The league has expanded its relationship with domestic partners, grown the grassroots programmes, reached out to more fans than ever through TV and social media, welcomed more NBA stars to our shores, and this year, announced the first ever NBA preseason game in India.

While the league's logo has been in the forefront of this growth, the man in the backgrounds helping to manage the league's India office was Yannick Colaco. Now, after six years as the Managing Director and Vice-President of NBA India, Colaco will step down from his position.

Colaco was hired for his current role in February 2013. NBA VP of global business operations Diane Gotua will relocate from New York to the NBA’s Mumbai office to lead the business in India on an interim basis and oversee the search for a new managing director.

"The NBA’s popularity and business in India have seen significant growth under Yannick’s leadership over the past six years," said Mark Tatum, the Deputy Commissioner of the NBA. "We thank Yannick for his contributions during his tenure as Managing Director and are grateful to have Diane assist with the transition."

"I am extremely thankful to have played a part in the growth of the NBA in India," Colaco said. "From broadening the distribution of our games to our plan to bring the live game experience to fans, the NBA’s business in India has never been better. It has been incredible living and breathing the NBA everyday over the past six years, and I look forward to applying my NBA experience as I move onto my next professional challenge."

Colaco spearheaded several programmes to help the NBA grow in India, including the formation of the NBA's partnership with Reliance Foundation for their grassroots basketball training programme, the launch of the NBA India Academy in Greater Noida, the increase in live NBA games on Indian TV (with introduction of Hindi commentary too), the growth of India's retail presence through NBAStore.in, partnering with fantasy sports website Dream11, and much more.

While his tenure will leave a positive legacy for the NBA in India, his departure does come at an inopportune time, with the NBA preparing for the first-ever NBA India Games featuring the Sacramento Kings and Indiana Pacers this October. Hopefully, the transition to new leadership is smooth to oversee the Games and the NBA's next major steps in the Indian market.