NBA legend Bruce Bowen said India has the potential to do well in professional basketball if it follows a “serious grass-roots programme.”
Bowen, a celebrated defender and part of the San Antonio Spurs team that won the NBA championships in 2003, 2005 and 2007, insisted that basketball comes as a “good alternative for those kids who are thinking outside cricket or football.”
Bowen was visiting Saint Xavier’s college here as a part of NBA Jam 3-on-3 youth festival hosted by Jabong.com.
The travelling interactive basketball festival, which is travelling across 16 cities, is focusing on eliciting participation in basketball in the country.
“Basketball is growing all over the world which is evident in the way lot of players from places like Brazil and Argentina are making their mark in the NBA,” Bowen said. “I see a lot of interest about the sport here. If there is a sustained development programme for the kids, there will be more players of Indian descent like Sim (Bhullar) to find a contract with an NBA team,” he added.
