Hoopistani: Lalhnehpuia Chhakchhuak

July 26, 2021

Hoopdarshan 108: NBA Academy India's Pritish Kokate + Finals talk

After years of perseverance, Pune-based Pritish Kokate found his dream come true in true 'filmi' fashion to become one of the recruits in the prestigious NBA Academy India. Kokate joins Hoopdarshan 108 to speak to Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok about his hoops journey, the 'Coco On Air' podcast, and to discuss Giannis Antetokounmpo's legacy after the amazing NBA Finals.

Also in Episode 108, Kaushik and Karan break down more of the NBA postseason, celebrate Milwaukee's long-overdue title, preview the Olympic Men's basketball tournament, and speak about Karan's trip to the holy grail of Butter Chicken, Aman Chicken in Ludhiana.

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.

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June 25, 2021

Hoopdarshan 106: Lalhnehpuia Chhakchhuak on Mizoram hoops and North Park University

Earlier this month, Mizoram teenager Lalhnehpuia Chhakchhuak, announced his commitment to the North Park University in Chicago, Illinois, becoming the latest in the line of student-athletes from the NBA Academy India to take their talents to the USA. In Episode 106 of Hoopdarshan, Chhakchhuak joins co-hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok to discuss what made him choose North Park, the growing popularity of Mizo Basketball, and how he plans to elevate his game to the next level.

A resident of Aizawl, Chhakchhuak first participated in the 2017-18 Reliance Foundation Jr. NBA programme before joining NBA Academy India in 2018 as a part of the Academy’s second class of student-athletes identified through the ACG-NBA Jump programme.

Kaushik and Karan close this episode with a little preview of the NBA Conference Finals, with a couple of big questions for the two series that loom ahead.