Developing Future Stars

By Ayaz Memon

Among the more laudable initiatives of the NBA, which is rapidly finding echo even in India in various sports, is the involvement of stars in developing youngsters and through them the community. In this year’s All-Stars extravaganza for example, Chris Bosh of the Toronto Raptors and Kevin Durant of the Oklahama City Thunder, served on the coaching staffs of the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge and Youth Jam and it would be fair to say that not only did scores of young fans benefit from them ,but also the sport.

Both Bosh and Durant, of course, are no strangers to this initiative, having benefited from a similar experience when they were rookies. Bosh was part of the Youth Jam in 2004 and 2005, while Durant was the MVP of the 2009 bash. But it is not unknown either that once youngsters graduate into the big league, they get engulfed in work schedule and stardom to an extent that they forget they roots. The NBA has created a wonderful eco-system in which such stars remain committed to the sport and its development.

How does this help? Ask any youngster playing any sport and he or she will tell you that the biggest source of inspiration is from a fellow player who has gone on to achieve something. In the age group of 12-18, athletes are full of vigour and energy, but still honing their skills. And they are certainly assaulted by self-doubts on what the future holds for them. A player who has been through a similar route and rill, and is contemporary in mindset as well as in skill-sets, can reduce the trepidations of youngsters.

Just to be with a player who has made it to the big league is encouragement enough for a budding player. To rub shoulders with legends is an experience of a lifetime. It’s not just words of encouragement or solace that emerging stars gain from those who have made it. Rather, it is the enhancement of self-esteem which helps quicken the development of a young player’s identity that is the more relevant. When you are talking to a Bosh or Durant on the same plane, as it were, you start believing that you have it in you to become him.

Cricket great Sachin Tendulkar, India’s most abiding sports icon, has often been quoted as saying that one of the most memorable moments of his life was when he was presented with a pair of batting gloves by Sunil Gavaskar, another legendary cricketer, in his teenage years. And it was not just the equipment paraphernalia which roused greater ambition in Tendulkar. Gavaskar, who had seen the youngster bat a few times, also told him that one day he would be sitting on top of all batting records. Tendulkar does that today.

I find it wonderful that the NBA sees the imparting of such experience from one generation to another as a mandatory part of its enterprise. It is relatively easier to make an organization or venture profitable, but infinitely more difficult to establish an ethos that looks beyond immediate pecuniary gains; in fact is looking at a sustainable venture in perpetuity – and not just where the balance sheet is concerned.

This requires a vision that is holistic: which looks at monetization of sport as essential for its upkeep and development, but also aims to build around this a whole value system that looks at excellence in skills and a strong agenda for personal and community development. This needs strong commitment and unrelenting effort from those who manage the sport.

Some part of this is already becoming evident from the NBA’s endeveaours in India as yet. Setting up courts in Mumbai’s Nagpada, for instance, is a strong indicator of commitment to community. Nagpada is not the most upscale of addresses in Mumbai, but has produced some of the best basketballers in the country. It would have been all too simple to reach out to only the affluent, but that would have been self-defeating. By targeting the area with an existing, high quality talent pool, the NBA is giving the community in Nagpada infrastructure and purpose in producing more high quality players.

Simultaneously, the NBA has got involved with a heavyweight corporate like Mahindras, this time to tap into the junior age groups, and sow in them the seeds of an exciting game, and perhaps more importantly, a mindset which sees sports as essential. I was speaking to the MD and CEO of Mahindras, Anand Mahindra, recently, and he was thrilled with the initiative which is not looking to directly win titles and medals given the targeted age group, but indirectly could lead to the same end because of the cultural change that the association with NBA would provide.

These are terrific developments, but I reckon (and hope) only the first few steps in the long road that the NBA hopes to traverse in India.