By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Two NBA teams, the Sacramento Kings and the Indiana Pacers, will go head-to-head on Friday and Saturday in Mumbai in two preseason games. It’s not just India’s first-ever NBA game— it’s the first time North American sports league teams have ever played in India, the NBA claims.
Kings GM Vlade Divac told ESPN that while the games will help the team bond, “they are also a great opportunity to promote the game and give hope to all those basketball players who are dreaming to be a part of the NBA.”
Pacers President of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard also talked about strengthening team bonding and fine-tuning preparations for the upcoming season through the games in India. Describing the Pacers and the Kings as ‘pioneers’, he noted it was more important, however, to demonstrate, especially to the kids, the principles of basketball, principles he believes they can use for the rest of their lives.