Hoopdarshan: Recent Episodes
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Hoopdarshan is a basketball podcast that focuses on basketball in India. But since we love the game so much, we also talk a lot of NBA and other Hoops stuff.
In a must-win qualifying game against Palestine, Amritpal Singh posted 32 points and 12 rebounds to secure a dramatic comeback victory for India. Now, the Punjabi big man joins Hoopdarshan to look ahead at the FIBA Asia Cup, share how he remained sharp during the Lockdown, and reminisce his time with the NBL in Australia. Hosted by Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok.
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.
To preview the unlikely, unfortunate, unprecedented NBA Finals, we welcome to Hoopdarshan Episode 107 Shivam Patel, one half of the Patel and Kumar NBA Show. Patel joins hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok to discuss the main storylines, everything from CP3 to Giannis, Booker to Middleton, Steve Nash to Lew Alcindor. Who'll be raising the banner when it's all over?
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.
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.
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.
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. Hosted by Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok
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.
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.
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 baskebtall's Padma Shri awardee Anitha Paul Durai, and add the film Chhalaang to the Indian Basketball Movie Database.
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.
Gautam Kapur, the Associate Manager of Basketball Strategy at the NBA, spent several months this year in the NBA's "Bubble" in Orlando, helping monitor the league's state-of-the-art healthcare technology. Kapur joins Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok in Episode 98 of Hoopdarshan to share fascinating stories from the Bubble, growing up and playing basketball in India, memories from the NBA India Games, and the Lakers' Butter Chicken connection.
The Lakers are 2020 NBA Champions! In Episode 97 of Hoopdarshan, Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok invite Vinod Muthukumar - Maharashtra basketball tsar & co-host of the Patel and Kumar NBA Show - to discuss what this championship means in Lakers lore, appreciate LeBron’s consistent greatness, AD’s game-changing addition, Jimmy Butler’s inspiring moments, and more.
It took a lot longer than usual, but the 2020 NBA Finals are finally here! In Episode 96 of Hoopdarshan, hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok welcome Lakers superfan Abhishek Bhardwaj to discuss a number of intriguing storylines including AD vs. Bam, Riley vs. LeBron, Kuzma vs. Herro, Lakers stars vs. Heat Culture, Kobe, Dwight, and much more.
In Episode 95 of Hoopdarshan, we welcome NBA India editor and writer Yash Matange. Matange discusses the success of recent Indian prospects like Prince Pal Singh, Anna Mary Zachariah, Siya Deodhar and more with co-hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok. Then, we preview the unprecedented NBA Bubble Playoffs, from Dame Time and Lakers Questions to Giannis, Toronto, Nuggets, and more.
To watch the first-ever NBA India Games in October, Indian basketball superfan and journalist Siddharth Sharma (aks SidBreakBall) embarked on an epic 3-day, 2,000 km bike journey from Kolkata to Mumbai. On Episode 94 of Hoopdarshan, Sharma joins co-hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok to discuss this wild trip, his memories at the very first NBA preseason game in India, working as a broadcaster for the UBA league, and the hoops scene in Kolkata.
One of the brightest young stars in Indian basketball, 17-year-old Harsimran 'Hunny' Kaur, joins Episode 93 of Hoopdarshan. The teenager from Kapurthala, Punjab spoke to hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok about joining San Diego State of the NCAA D1, dreams to become the first Indian in the WNBA, and how she finally defeated her father - a former national player - on the court.
On Episode 92, Indo-Canadian baller Bikramjit Gill joins Hoopdarshan from Toronto, where he talks to co-hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok about staying fit in lockdown, the journey that made him a 3x3 phenom in India, the state of Indian basketball, and how the nickname '6earded King' came about.
In a pandemic-afflicted world without sport (or any outdoor activity), there is nothing that we needed more than 'The Last Dance' the documentary on Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. In Episode 91, we invite indisputably the biggest desi MJ fan on earth - Krossovr founder/CEO Vasu Kulkarni - to discuss his early reactions to the documentary, his memories of becoming an MJ fan, the numerous times he met Michael Jordan in person, plus bonus stories of the Warriors dynasty and David Stern's favourite emoji.
After spending the last few years 'in the lab', improving his game at the NBA Academy India, 17-year-old 7-footer Amaan Sandhu made his senior national India debut in the winter. In Episode 90 of Hoopdarshan, Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok welcome Sandhu to talk about his rapid improvements, inheriting the hoops-gene from his high-flying father, his plans during the nationwide lockdown, and the world's greatest nickname: Big Baby Punjab.
Joining hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok in Episode 89 of Hoopdarshan is the great Micah Adams, the NBA Global Managing Editor for DAZN. One of the most astute minds working in the game today, Adams discussed his on/off court experiences from the All Star Weekend in Chicago, the ELAM Ending, Stats vs. Eye-Test, Kobe, his Mumbai trip for the NBA India Games, the Rockets, 76ers, and more.
Hoopdarshan pays its tributes to the late great black mamba, as they talk about reactions to receiving news of Kobe Bryant's passing before moving on to Episode 88 that was recorded days before the tragedy.
In the latest episode of the Indian basketball podcast Hoopdarshan, we welcome Norman Swaroop Isaac, India's own FIBA Technical Delegate and Commissioner who has officiated high-level international matches for decades, including the recent FIBA World Cup Final. Isaac speaks to co-hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok about working a big event like the World Cup, the evolution of international basketball officiating over the years, how to improve the status of Indian basketball, and his own playing days for Andhra Pradesh.
Join Hoopdarshan in a double-sided bonanza episode, where we wave goodbye to the 2010s by discussing the best of the last ten years. In Part 1, we are joined by Indian basketball writer Gopalakrishnan R. (Ekalavyas) to create India's Men and Women's All-Decade teams. In Part 2, we welcome NBA India expert Akshay Manwani to debate our All-Decade starting fives. It's peak Hoopdarshan, straddling a foot in each of our favourite hooping worlds.
NBA is back with perhaps the most wide-open season in years. And in this post-NBA India Games era, Hoopdarshan goes back to doing what we do best: predicting the unpredictable. With the help of NBA India's creative director Nakul Yadav, co-hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok talk about the favourites, the lamest, the Lakers, the Clippers, the changes, the MVPs and everything else in between.
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, 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.
On October 4-5, the basketball story in India will take a massive leap with the historic, first-ever NBA India Games: two preaseason matches between the Indiana Pacers and Sacramento Kings in Mumbai. Hoopdarshan is of course here to break it all down: Co-hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok welcome NBA India's Content Producer Yash Matange to talk about the lead-up to this event, the two participating teams, off-court events, all the India/Hindi connections, and much more.
On the eve of the 2019 FIBA Asia Women's Cup in Bengaluru, India's star player Jeena Scaria joins us on Hoopdarshan. In an interview with co-hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok, Scaria tells us about India's strategy in the tougher Division A of the tournament, the top players to watch out for, and playing pro in Australia - an experience that changed her life both on and off the court.
The top player in Indian Basketball - Amjyot Singh - joins Hoopdarshan in Episode 82 to discuss his suspension from India's national team, his experiences playing in the NBA G-League, taking part in the 3x3BL in Punjab this season, and rating Gurudwara langar food. In addition, co-hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok catch up on all the happenings from the Indian basketball universe.
In Episode 81 of Hoopdarshan, actor, producer and NBA anchor Harman Singha joins on Hoopdarshan to discuss his latest brainchild: Mumbai's 3x3 Street Ball League. Singha discusses the conception of the league with celebrity co-hosts, his brother Rannvijay Singha's basketball skills, his background loving the NBA, and the best food to eat in Jalandhar.
Hoopdarshan's 80th episode is going to be a long, emotional journey, highlighted with an interview with India's new national team coach, Veselin Matic of Serbia. Matic discusses his plans for Team India going forward, his adjustment in the country so far, and how he hopes to bring a change to Indian basketball. Furthermore, co-hosts Kaushik Lakhsman and Karan Madhok discuss the frantic NBA Free Agency as well as Marathi basketball movie 'Ajinkya'.
Episode 79 of Hoopdarshan accomplishes two agendas: our reaction to the Toronto Raptors becoming the weirdest NBA champions in years... and the rise of 3x3 basketball in India. Co-hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok are joined by India's top-ranked FIBA 3x3 player Dhruv Barman who tells us about his unlikely journey into a basketball career and why India's 3x3 can make waves at the Olympics.
With the NBA reaching its last stage of the season, we invited sports anchor for the NBA in India Manas Singh on Hoopdarshan. In a free-flowing interview, Singh discussed with co-hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok about the Warriors going for a three-peat, the effect (or non-effect) of Kevin Durant's presence in the Finals, Kawhi Leonard's redemption tour, Stephen Curry's legacy, and why he's potentially 90 minutes away from an inappropriate tattoo.
The very first guest on Hoopdarshan, Scott Flemming, returns to India's premier basketball podcast in a new role. Flemming was arguably the most successful head coach of India's Men's basketball side, and now works as the Technical Director of the NBA Academy India in Greater Noida. In an in-depth interview with co-hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok, Flemming talked about the changing opportunities for India's top prospects, what India can do to turn around their recent slump, and the full inside story of the 'Turban-Ban' controversy from the 2014 FIBA Asia Cup.
One of the most experienced players of Team India, Raspreet Sidhu joins the new episode of the Indian basketball podcast Hoopdarshan. In a wide-ranging conversation with co-hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok, Sidhu discussed her father's role in her basketball journey, being on court for iconic moments in Indian hoops history, and the struggle for opportunities for India's women players.
To preview the upcoming NBA playoffs, NBA analyst and commentator Akshay Manwani joins Hoopdarshan's co-hosts Kaushik Lakshman and KaranMadhok to discuss the battle-royale in the East, the challengers to Golden State in the West, and the players, teams, and moments that have defined this NBA season so far.
After a long absence, Hoopdarshan returns for Episode 74, with our attention focused towards the future. Hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok are joined by sports journalist Arka Bhattacharya of The Field to discuss building sustainable sports culture in India, lessons for a future Indian pro basketball league, and the current sports-media landscape.
With the season right around its midway point, Hoopdarshan returns with an All-NBA special episode. Joined by special guest Nikhila Makker of FirstPost, co-hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok talk about the Warriors' dominance, James Harden pros/cons, Pacers vs. Kings in India, and the quality (or lack thereof) of NBA beards.
Episode 72 of Hoopdarshan comes around Christmas and New Year's with a double dose of gifts for the holidays. We are joined by Sanjana Ramesh - the Beagles Mamba - on becoming the second Indian to receive a NCAA D1 scholarship for Northern Arizona, her basketball journey in Bengaluru, and her favourite dosas. Hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok also discuss the impact of the historic first NBA preseason games between the Kings and Pacers coming to Mumbai next year.
With the finals of the fifth season of India's most-extra basketball event - the Mizoram Basketball League (MSL) - in our sights, Hoopdarshan welcomes Mizo basketball's biggest star and last season's MVP Lalrina Renthlei as our special guest for Episode 71. In a wide-ranging interview, Renthlei speaks to hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok about the MSL's growth, basketball in the North-East, toggling between pro basketball and snooker, and his ambitions to play for India's national team.
It's Diwali season, and Hoopdarshan has brought the fireworks. In Episode 70 of the podcast, we feature special guest Palpreet Singh Brar, the first Indian to be drafted directly by the NBA G-League, an important member of the Indian national team, and the man embroiled around a controversy that got him suspended from Indian basketball this year. Brar bares his all, giving his side of the story, and providing more details of his incredible journey. Additionally, co-hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok catch up on other news in Indian basketball and the NBA.
The new NBA season is here, and so is Hoopdarshan, India's premier basketball podcast! In episode 69, hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok are joined by basketball superfan James Hsu to speak about burning topics like the Warriors' inevitability, Lakers' playoff fortunes, the LeBron-less battle in the East, and everything else!
India's premier basketball podcast Hoopdarshan returns with Episode 68, featuring special guest Francisco Garcia, the former head coach of India's women's senior team. Garcia, now back in his native Spain, speaks about where India's performances have faltered in recent years, the important players to carry the torch forward, and his uneding connection to India.
For Episode 67 of Hoopdarshan, Rohit Bakshi, the Commissioner of 3x3BL - the FIBA-affiliated 3x3 pro basketball league in India - talks to Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok about the league's unlikely inception, dealing with speed-bumps in the first season, 3x3 fans around the country, expansion plans, and much more!
This weekend, the top players of South Asian descent in North America will converge in Chicago for the annual Chicago Indo-Pak Nationals. Co-organizer Vik Chokshi joins Hoopdarshan to discuss the history and legacy of this tournament, the greatest desi ballers in North America, and his love for the Chicago Bulls.
Episode 65 of the Indian basketball podcast Hoopdarshan features special guest Amit Kamath - writer for FirstPost - who joins co-hosts Kaushik Lakshman and KaranMadhok to talk about experiencing the 2018 NBA Finals in person in Cleveland and Oakland, the moods of the respective fan-bases in this high-stakes contest, and the future of LeBron James with the Cavaliers.
Last week, the Basketball Federation of India dropped a bombshell, banning Indian basketball players Amjyot Singh and Palpreet Singh for 1-year based on alleged indiscipline by both players. On Episode 64 of Hoopdarshan, Amjyot Singh tells his side of the story to Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok, addressing all of the federation's allegations, his relationship with his coaches and teammates, and his state-of-mind looking forward as he prepares for the NBA G-League workouts again.
The entire lifetime of Hoopdarshan - India's top basketball podcast - has had a singular inevitability: Warriors vs. Cavaliers in the NBA Finals. For the fourth consecutive time, the two franchises meet again, meaning more Steph, more LeBron, more Durant, and Klay and Green(s), and Love and even JR & Swaggy P! Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok invite Episode 63 guest Thejas Balaraman to wrap-up the Conference Finals & make our predictions for the Finals ahead!
Indian basketball star Satnam Singh makes his 3rd appearance on the Hoopdarshan podcast, joining hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok to talk about his return to India, experiences of playing in the NBA G-League, and future ambitions for an NBA return. Satnam was the first NBA draft pick from India, played for the Texas Legends for two years, was the subject of the documentary 'One in a Billion', and is now preparing to help India in the Asian Games later this year.
For Episode 61, Shireen Limaye - the most recent captain of India's Women's basketball team - joins Hoopdarshan to talk about India's performances at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia, the basketball scene in her hometown Pune, and hitting THAT shot to help India win Division B of the FIBA Asia Cup last year.
It's that time of the year again! The NBA Playoffs are here, and to round-up another fantastic regular season and look forward to the playoffs, Hoopdarshan returns with an enlightening conversation between Kaushik Lakshman, Karan Madhok, and our NBA India expert Akshay Manwani. Hear our picks and debates on the big end-of-season awards and our predictions of which teams could go all the way in the post-season.
Over the past few weeks, Gopalakrishnan R. of Pursuit India headed Northeast to cover one of Indian basketball's pleasant surprises: the Mizoram Super League. In Episode 59 of Hoopdarshan, Gopal joints hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok to talk about in depth about the MSL's popularity, preview Indian basketball at the Commonwealth Games, comment on the Amjyot-Amritpal situation, and discuss why we Indian basketball fans are the X-Men.
Last week, India hosted two FIBA World Cup Qualifiers on home soil, at Bengaluru's Sree Kanteerava Stadium. A "clerical error" of epic proportions forced India to field undermanned squads, and eventually, lose both games to Jordan and Lebanon. In Episode 58 of Hoopdarshan, hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok welcome SportsKeeda writer Yash Matange to blast-off on this strange situation, break down where India went right and wrong in the two match-ups, and discuss the NBA's interest in hosting a preseason game in the country.
For NBA fans in India, one of the most consistent voices in the media over the past few years has been of Ridhima Pathak, anchor of the Sony SIX show NBA Around the Hoop. In Episode 57 of Hoopdarshan, Ridhima joins hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok to talk about her unlikely journey into NBA broadcasting, her love for the Cavaliers, Steph Curry, and her special khichdi recipe.
One of Indian basketball's biggest stars, Amritpal Singh, is breaking barriers as the first Indian to play in the Australian NBL league. After watching Amritpal play first-hand in Melbourne, Hoopdarshan's host Kaushik Lakshman joins Karan Madhok to interview Vishnu Ravi Shankar of Pursuit India on Amritpal's NBL journey, opportunities, challenges, and the future of other top Indian prospects.
(A former posting of this episode had an error, which is now fixed, sorry for the error) The NBA has made ambitious inroads in India over the last few years, from the elite level like the NBA India Academy to the grassroots like the Reliance Jr. NBA programme. To discuss this, NBA India's Managing Director Yannick Colaco joined Hoopdarshan in Episode 55, where we also spoke about Kevin Durant's recent India trip, NBA's broadcasting and social media growth in India, and future development programmes in the horizon.
This week, India will host the FIBA U16 Women's Asia Championship in Bengaluru. To preview the tournament for the home team, Hoopdarshan invited India's head coach, Zoran Visic, for an illuminating conversation. Visic spoke about India's preparation, our biggest challengers, lessons from coaching India's Senior Women's team, and coping without Serbian food in India.
With the new season on the brink, Hoopdarshan is back with a lengthy discussion on All Things NBA. In Episode 53, co-hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok are joined by Vince Granata to give thoughts, predictions, and flaming hot takes on the Warriors' chance of a repeat, the future of new-look Cavs and Celtics in the East, player movement, around the league, and a Laker family of Balls.
Last month, India sent a stacked roster to the FIBA Asia Cup in Lebanon but returned disappointed, losing all three first round games. In Episode 52 of Hoopdarshan, one of India's finest basketball players - Amjyot Singh - joins hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok to talk about India's performances at the tournament, evolving his individual game, Satnam Singh's role off the bench, and fired some shots towards Chennai cuisine!
India's men's national team will be in Lebanon this week to take part in the prestigious FIBA Asia Cup. To help preview our chances at the tournament, the team's Head Coach and NBA veteran Phil Weber co-hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok on Hoopdarshan. In an informative and entertaining conversation, Weber discussed the players who have impressed him, shared his concerns with the team's fitness level, and took us back to the NBA where he looked forward to a full season with Davis and Cousins in New Orleans.
Hoopdarshan - the Indian Basketball podcast - celebrates their half-century in style. With the FIBA Asia Women's Cup 2017 around the corner, set to be held in India in Bengaluru, hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok are joined by Indian basketball legend and Arjuna Awardee Geethu Anna Rahul. Rahul helped us preview the tournament, talked about her past experiences with Team India, playing pro in Australia, the WNBL, discussed the chances of her comeback to the national team, and much more!
There is no offseason. In Episode 49 of Hoopdarshan, hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok anticipate the arrival of Kevin Durant to India as the greatest basketball player to step foot on our soil. Joining us is NBA expert Akshay Manwani, who spoke about KD, the history of every NBA player to ever visit India, his thoughts on the NBA Draft, and more!
Last month, 21-year-old Kavita Akula made spectacular news by becoming the first Indian basketball player to win a full NCAA Division 1 scholarship, at the Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona. Now, as she prepares for her summer role as a star point guard for India at the 2017 FIBA Asia Women's Cup, Akula joins the Hoopdarshan podcast to talk about her scholarship, her improvements from IMG Academy to college ball in the USA, and India's chances at the Asia Cup in Bengaluru next month. In addition, co-hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok also review the NBA Finals, Kevin Durant's upcoming visit to India, and India's Men's squad at the 2017 BRICS Games.
With two of the greatest assemblies of superstar talent set to meet each other at the game's biggest stage, Warriors vs. Cavaliers III is sure to be a classic NBA Finals matchup. Listen to Hoopdarshan's preview, where Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok join guest Adarsh Dalala Rao to talk about LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Kyrie Irving, lovehating Draymond Green, and why this is set to be the greatest trilogy since the original Star Wars.
It's a busy month for basketball, with the NBA Playoffs, Euroleague Final Four, launch of the NBA Academy India, and hoops fever all over the globe. For Episode 26 of Hoopdarshan, Vanja Cernivec - an NBA Operations Specialist currently for the Europe-Middle East-Africa region, joins hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok to talk about all types of hoops: coaching in India, China, Spain, closely observing the Euroleague, NBA playoffs, and the rise of her fellow Slovenian prodigy Luka Doncic
After a season of individual historics, we are finally on the cusp of the playoffs. To preview the post-season, Hoopdarshan's hosts Kaushik Lakhsman and Karan Madhok bring on board Ekam Nagra, the CEO and Founder of popular international media outlet 'Ball Don't Stop'. Nagra speaks to us about the most-intriguing storylines ahead, the impossible MVP race, and being awestruck with Allen Iverson.
Eban Hyams is a truly global citizen, raised in India and Australia, and with professional basketball experience around the world. Most recently, Hyams has been a part of the UBA Basketball League in India. In Episode 44, he joins Hoopdarshan to talk to hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok about his experience leading the Haryana Gold, the Australian basketball scene, and his favourite emojis.
Kerala's Jeena Scaria has quickly become India's finest women's basketball player, a young leader for the Women's national squad, the team's "chechi" (elder sister). In episode 43 of Hoopdarshan, Jeena joins hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok to talk about her expectations for India at the upcoming FIBA Asia Cup on home soil, her leadership in helping Kerala win the Senior Nationals after a three-decade wait, and the scarce opportunities for women in Indian basketball.
With the 2017 NBA All Star Weekend around the corner, the Hoopdarshan podcast takes a deep (often ridiculous) dive into the festivities. NBA India expert and best-selling author Akshay Manwani joins co-hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok to talk about the players and events they're most excited for at the All Star Weekend, their predictions, trade chatter, title contenders, and Abhishek Bachchan's on-court skills.
Last week, India's largest domestic basketball tournament - the Senior Nationals - concluded in Puducherry, giving fans and scouts a taste of the best talent from around the country. To give us an informed discussion about the rising stars in Indian basketball, the Hoopdarshan podcast called up Himamshu Dabir, the chief of basketball operations for the Basketball Federation of India (BFI), to join us for Episode 41. Dabir shared his expertise with hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok on the most intriguing teams and players from the Senior Nationals, the future names and events to look forward to in Indian basketball, and on India's biggest need: the point guard position.
Hoopdarshan, India's finest basketball podcast, celebrates its 40th episode with an interview with Indo-American point guard Inderbir Gill. Gill joins hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok to talk about becoming a college basketball star, coaching NBA in India, starring for a world-renowned 3x3 basketball team, and finding the greatest Butter Chicken in the world. Also discussed: the Satnam Singh documentary and India at the Super Kung Sheung Cup.
A little over a year ago, Satnam Singh made history by becoming the first Indian to be drafted into the NBA. After spending a season with the D-League, Satnam readies for another season with the Texas Legends. The 7-foot, 20-year-old phenon makes a comeback on India's finest basketball podcast, Hoopdarshan, to talk to hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok about striving for more time to prove his talent, his off-court life in the D-League, NBA ambitions, and finding life-size cutouts of himself around Frisco.
Diwali is the greatest fireworks show in the world... Well, that, and on the basketball court! This year, the 'Festival of Light' couldn't come at a better time, as it coincides with the beginning of the 2016-17 NBA Season. To tackle all the most pressing questions and excitement of the coming year, Hoopdarshan hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok call to NBA superfan Samir Kumar for help. Check out this special NBA preview episode, where we wonder if anyone can stop a Warriors-Cavaliers rematch, discuss the players and teams who will most intrigue us this season, and allow Samir to give us an important Ray Allen tribute.
Vishesh Bhriguvanshi is a busy man. Between starring for India at the historic FIBA Asia Challenge performance in Iran, winning the Maldives pro basketball league in his first season, and leading ONGC to the FIBA Asia Champions Cup in China, the superstar guard found time to guest in Episode 37 of the Hoopdarshan podcast. With Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok, Bhriguvanshi recapped India's recent big wins, his stacked international basketball schedule, and revealed why's he's now the Banarasi James Harden.
On Episode 36 of Hoopdarshan, the VP of broadcasting of the UBA Basketball League in India joins Hoopdarshan to discuss the growth of the league, the exciting young talents propelling the movement forward, and the "confusing" situation of BFI banning UBA's players from national competitions. Hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok also discuss India's performances at the ongoing FIBA Asia Challenges, the Shaq-Yao-Iverson trifecta in the Hall of Fame, and a very special ox #OxWithHops.
With one of the biggest Asian basketball tournaments - the 2016 FIBA Asia Challenge - just around the corner, we at Hoopdarshan recruited one of the top sources to help us preview the championship from India's perspective, our national team's head coach and former player CV Sunny. Coach Sunny joins hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok to talk about our star players and starting lineups, the team's preparatory performances at the William Jones Cup, and if India can make some noise at the knockout stage.
It may be the NBA offseason, but Indian Basketball, and World Basketball in general, never stops. In Episode 34 of Hoopdarshan, hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok discuss India's recent performances at the FIBA Asia U18 Championship and the William Jones Cup, imagine India's journey to the Olympics, and preview basketball at the Rio Olympic Games. Basketball Federation of India's Media coordinator Richard Xalxo joins the podcast to give fans an inside look of the improving state of hoops in India plus future challenges from the BFI's perspective.
It's been a hell of a summer for the average NBA fan, and Episode 33 of the Hoopdarshan podcast takes a deep, long dive into the most pressing issues on our mind in this historic offseason. NBA superfan and India's first FIBA agent Jonathan Rego joins hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok to talk about all the ramifications and reactions to Kevin Durant in the Warriors, the response from Russell Westbrook and LeBron James, the ever-changing concept of NBA loyalty after Dwyane Wade's move to Chicago, and the news of Tim Duncan's retirement that made Jonathan physically ill. It's all here, and it's going to blow your mind!
In Episode number 32 of India's finest basketball podcast Hoopdarshan, star international point guard Akanksha Singh joins hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok to speak up for the problems in Indian basketball. One of Varanasi's famed 'Singh Sisters', Akanksha candidly discusses how the BFI split is hurting Indian players, her growing popularity in the country, and beating up creepy men off the court. Karan and Kaushik also wrap up the NBA finals that saw the king win a title for his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers
Warriors. Cavaliers. The rematch. The 2016 NBA Finals are set to be epic, and we have an appropriately epic, Hoopdarshan-flavoured preview for you to satisfying all basketball palates. For Episode 31, hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok are joined by CBS Sports Writer Ananth Pandian to discuss what a title could mean for the Curry and Warriors' fairytale season, the pressure on LeBron to deliver a title to Cleveland, Klay's Yoda socks, and our final predictions for the series.
Hoopdarshan has entered the 30s, and to celebrate, we're going to our roots. Our grassroots. Our guest for Episode 30 is Pradyut Voleti, founder and coach of the Dribble Academy who have begun a grassroots basketball programme in Gheja village near Noida. Voleti joins hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok to discuss bringing basketball and education hand in hand to underprivileged children, the growth and success stories of Dribble Academy, and sparking a revolution for other such programmes to improve basketball around India.
As the NBA Playoffs move into the Second Round, Hoopdarshan moves onwards too, keeping a keen eye on the final eight teams competing for the 2016 NBA Championship. On Episode 29 of India's finest basketball podcast, hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok are joined by NBA superfan and Karan's friend Zyman Marzuki to break down TEN BIG QUESTIONS for the NBA Playoffs. Is Tim Duncan truly a Robot? Kevin Durant or Russell Westbrook? Can anyone in the East stop the Cavs? And yes, our thoughts on which team will go all the way to the title
India's finest basketball podcast, Hoopdarshan, is back! In Episode 28, Maryland's point guard Varun Ram - one of the few Indian-origin players to play in the NCAA March Madness Tournament - joins the podcast to talk about college basketball in the US and his continuing connection to India. Hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok also give a shoutout to the Delhi Capitals, winners of the second season of the UBA Basketball League, and discuss why it's no surprise that Ludhiana happens to be both a capital of Indian basketball and butter chicken.
On Episode 27 of the Indian basketball podcast Hoopdarshan, hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok are blessed to welcome Jayasankar Menon, a retired legend of the game and the Secretary-General of the Indian Basketball Players Association (IBPA). In a candid and entertaining chat, Menon discusses the IBPA's efforts to save basketball from its conflicts in India, his glory days as Indian captain and Asian All Star, future direction of Indian hoops, and why we should thank a reckless Auto-Richshaw-Wallah for his success.
The 2016 NBA All Star Weekend is upon us, and for the first time, basketball's biggest exhibition event will take place outside the United States - in Toronto, Canada. To bring Hoopdarshan listeners closer to the event, we invited Payal Doshi, the Social Media Manager of NBA Canada, to give us a brief buzz of how Toronto has prepared for All Star. Of course, hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok give their unadulterated predictions and expectations for the All Star Weekend, too. We wrap up this episode by speaking to Payal about her experiences with Indian Basketball and reveal a big Bollywood-NBA surprise for ASW.
Few journalists know the domestic Indian basketball scene better than Gopalakrishnan R, the co-creator of Ekalavyas.com and a freelance writer. On Episode 25 of the Indian basketball podcast Hoopdarshan, Gopal joins hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok to take a deep dive into Indian basketball, discussing the latest National basketball championship, rising stars and impressive teams around the country, and the motivations behind Indian basketball players and stakeholders. We also discuss Neha Dhupia's pursuit of Jimmy Butler and sprinkle numerous Indian to NBA comparisons.
Hoopdarshan, the Indian Basketball podcast, has reached its 24th episode, which means that it's just about time to pay homage to Mr. 24 himself, Kobe Bean Black Mamba Bryant. After 20 years in the NBA, Bryant will be retiring at the end of this season. Co-hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok are joined by hoops enthusiast Kunal Mathew to discuss the highs and lows of Kobe's career, his most-memorable moments, his legacy, and his place in the 2016 NBA All Star Team.
In early October, Hoopdarshan co-host Karan Madhok traveled to McLeodganj and Dharamshala - hill-stations in the Indian Himalayas home to a vibrant community of Tibetan refugees - with photographer Angad Sodhi to discover how basketball bonds the displaced population together. The epic trip turned into a story for the upcoming issue of SLAM Magazine (# 195) encapsulating together sports, politics, and travel. In Episode 23 of Hoopdarshan, host Kaushik Lakshman, Karan and Angad talk about the story behind the story, featuring the refugees' affinity for basketball, the Tibetans' relationship with China and India, unforgettable characters from McLeodganj, and the quest for the perfect momo.
In 2007, after coaching around the world from the USA to China and Europe, JD Walsh descended to India. Walsh's "JDBasketball" movement spread quickly to all corners of the country, influencing thousands of Indian players & coaches. On Episode 22 of the Hoopdarshan podcast, Walsh joins hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok to talk about the past, present, and future of Indian Basketball, the state of his hometown New York Knicks, and the Pandavs starting 5 from The Mahabharat.
For decades, Coach R L Prasad Guntupalli - known popularly as GLR Prasad - has been a popular face in the Indian basketball circles, from club-level competitions in Bengaluru to advising from the bench as Team India defeated China in Wuhan last year. On Episode 21 of Hoopdarshan, Prasad joins hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok to talk being Scott Flemming's assistant for the Men's National team, coaching India to victory at 2015 SABA Qualifiers, and the growing basketball scene in Karnataka. Additionally, Kaushik and Karan talk in great detail about the exciting new NBA season, including the Warriors, Tim Duncan, and Kevin Garnett.
At 19, Amrit Pal Singh was farming with his father in Fattuwal, Punjab when he was first introduced to basketball. At 23, he is one of India's finest basketball players and is playing professionally for the best team in Japan's D-League. Hoopdarshan - India's finest basketball podcast - introduces you to the dictionary definition of a 'Late Bloomer'. Listen in as Amrit Pal talks to co-hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok about his wild rise from the villages to the Indian hoops elite, his dominant performances in Japan, and finding Butter Chicken in Tokyo.
Good news: the 2015-16 NBA season is here! Better news: you get to hear three Indian accents break down the top storylines across the league to build your appetite. Hosted by Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok, the new episode of Hoopdarshan features Vishnu Ravi Shankar, the co-founder of Indian basketball website Ekalavyas. Take a listen for our breakdown of the Thunder, Cavs, Spurs, Warriors, Bulls, Clippers, Satnam Singh, DeMarcus Cousins, and the sad fates of our own favourite teams. Finally, we offer our final predictions for MVP, the top individual awards, and eventually, the 2016 NBA champ.
Hoopdarshan is back! On Episode 18 of India's finest basketball blog, hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok catch up with Indian cricket and sports journalist extraordinaire, Jamie Alter. Alter, the Sports Editor of Times of India Digital, explains to us the popularity of cricket in India, what other sports like basketball can learn from cricket's success, and finds parallels between Sachin, Jordan, LeBron, and Yuvraj Singh.
In just about a week, 16 of the top teams in Asia will head to Changsha (China) to take part in the 2015 FIBA Asia Basketball Championship (ABC). In this episode of Hoopdarshan, we bring abroad the Asian basketball expert Enzo Flojo to help preview the ABC. The Filipino Flojo joins Hoopdarshan co-hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok to break down all the teams, top contenders, and top players to keep our eye on in China. We give special mention to our respective homelands (India and Philippines), and allow Flojo to tell us why exactly "it's better in the Philippines."
MoreWins is the theme of Episode 16 of Hoopdarshan, the finest podcast on Indian Basketball. Hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok are joined by Bengaluru-raised tech entrepreneur Vasu Kulkarni, who has turned his start-up 'Krossover' into a must-have service for NBA, College, and High-School coaches in North America and beyond. In a candid chat, Kulkarni spoke to us about how growing up and learning hoops in Bengaluru shaped his ambitions, how Krossover is furthering advanced analytics in basketball, and meeting God... er, Michael Jordan.
As we countdown the days to the 2015 FIBA Asia Basketball Championship for Women in Wuhan (China), hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok of the Hoopdarshan podcast couldn't find better company than the Head Coach of Team India himself, Francisco Garcia. Two years after he guided India to a best-ever fifth-place finish, Garcia gives us a detailed preview of what the Indian attack will look like at Wuhan, his expectations of the team's rising new stars, and his 2nd India Bucket List before he returns home to Spain.
68 years ago, India won Independence from the British Empire, and in 2015, we are still thankful for the nation's most glorious day. Feeling a whiff of patriotism, the Indian basketball podcast Hoopdarshan - hosted by Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok - bring you our Independence Day special episode. Join us as we recount and discuss the greatest milestones in Indian basketball history, from the first ball bounced in Kapurthala to the first Indian drafted into the NBA. We finish the episode with a special interview with former Women's NT captain Prashanti Singh on her biggest moments in a Team India jersey, the struggle for women in the sport, and getting marriage proposals from random fans.
One of India's most talented basketball players, 22-year-old Chandigarh boy Amjyot Singh's skills made him a regular starter for India's national team, gave him a pivotal role in India's historic win over China last year, and brought him a pro contract to play in Japan. In Episode 13 of Hoopdarshan - the first podcast on Indian Basketball - Amjyot joins hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok in a candid conversation about his starring role for Team India, his experiences playing in Japan, facing FIBA's 'No Headgear' policy as a Sikh player, and listening to romantic slow jams before big games.
On Episode 12 of Hoopdarshan - the Indian basketball podcast - hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok catch up with Bryan Gamroth, former coach at NBA India's Jr. NBA programme. Gamroth discusses his most memorable and amusing moments while teaching basketball to the Mumbai youth, speaks of India's potential as a growing basketball nation, and suffers our jabs after a depressing few weeks as a Portland Trail Blazers fan.
On Episode 12 of Hoopdarshan - the Indian basketball podcast - hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok catch up with Bryan Gamroth, former coach at NBA India's Jr. NBA programme. Gamroth discusses his most memorable and amusing moments while teaching basketball to the Mumbai youth, speaks of India's potential as a growing basketball nation, and suffers our jabs after a depressing few weeks as a Portland Trail Blazers fan.
On Episode 11 of Hoopdarshan, hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok are joined by Shaun Jayachandran, the Founder of Crossover Basketball and Scholar's Academy. For the last 3 years, Shaun has been visiting Chennai in India with Crossover volunteers to reach out to youth from low-income households and help them explore important life-skills through the sport of basketball. On this episode, we discuss Crossover's mission to change Indian education one hooping kid at a time, his talented team of volunteers, and why Yo Yo Honey Singh should write a basketball rap anthem