Howard Promotes the NBA Across India
Posted: Thursday, August 12, 2010 11:47 ET
Updated: Thursday, February 17, 2010
By Scott Stanchak, NBA.com India
Spread the word. That’s the mission Dwight Howard is on right now. He just happens to be doing it nearly 8,000 miles away from his home in Orlando, Fla. The four-time NBA All-Star is on a five-day ambassadorship visit to India, helping promote the NBA and even offer some on-court advice. In a phone interview from Delhi, Howard spoke about expanding the NBA and basketball globally and the potential for growth in India.
How were you approached by the NBA regarding this ambassadorship trip to India?
“My assistant asked if I wanted to go to India. I was like ‘yea, of course.’ I always wanted to go. So I’m here.”
In your opinion, how well received is the NBA in that country right now?
“It’s crazy. I’m surprised by the big fanbase we have here. I just got out to the lobby and there are a lot of fans around and a lot of people waiting to take pictures. It’s great here.”
Is that crazy to go somewhere so far away from the United States and people still recognize you?
“It is. It’s very crazy. It’s something that basketball players wish could happen one day, to go across the globe and people all the way across the world recognize you. It’s a blessing and an honor to be here. It’s an honor to be one of the guys that’s recognized.”
Is the NBA fanbase there larger or less than you expected?
“I didn’t know what to expect to be honest with you. I’ve been to China a bunch of times and every time I went there I kind of knew what it was going to be like. I didn’t know what it was going to be like here. I was just shocked to see how everything has been going so far.”
What was it like training with India’s Senior Men’s National Team?
“Oh, man. It was great. Just teaching those guys and trying to help them so they’ll continue to grow as good players. It was a lot of fun.”
You also had the opportunity to show off your coaching skills with a clinic there. Do you think you’ll be bringing any tips back for Coach Van Gundy?
“I’ll let coach do his job, but I feel I do a pretty good job training kids and working out guys and trying to motive them so that they can play better. It’s a good opportunity for me.”
What type of questions are they asking you as a coach?
“They were asking basic questions: How to position themselves on defense to get rebounds and how to guard bigger guys. They were all really very good questions that at first I didn’t know if they were going to ask. They just asked a lot of really good questions, including how to block a shot and get around bigger opponents.”
You arrived in India from China. That was a country in the last decade that has had a boom in NBA fans. Do you see that as a possible scenario in India?
“I do. That’s the goal here is to do that. We understand it’s going to take a lot of time. It’s barely the number-four sport here right now. This is a long-term goal by the NBA, and I’m just happy to be a part of it.”
Cricket is the number-one sport in India. Have you been able to try your skills at it while there?
“No, I haven’t gotten the chance to play. I would actually try to play it though. It seems like a very cool sport.”
Updated: Thursday, February 17, 2010
By Scott Stanchak, NBA.com India
| NBA.com/India caught up with Dwight Howard on Thursday, Feb. 17, in Los Angeles before the official beginning of All-Star weekend -- and six months after Dwight's trip to India, Superman still carries the memories with him every day. |
How were you approached by the NBA regarding this ambassadorship trip to India?
“My assistant asked if I wanted to go to India. I was like ‘yea, of course.’ I always wanted to go. So I’m here.”
In your opinion, how well received is the NBA in that country right now?
“It’s crazy. I’m surprised by the big fanbase we have here. I just got out to the lobby and there are a lot of fans around and a lot of people waiting to take pictures. It’s great here.”
Is that crazy to go somewhere so far away from the United States and people still recognize you?
“It is. It’s very crazy. It’s something that basketball players wish could happen one day, to go across the globe and people all the way across the world recognize you. It’s a blessing and an honor to be here. It’s an honor to be one of the guys that’s recognized.”
Is the NBA fanbase there larger or less than you expected?
“I didn’t know what to expect to be honest with you. I’ve been to China a bunch of times and every time I went there I kind of knew what it was going to be like. I didn’t know what it was going to be like here. I was just shocked to see how everything has been going so far.”
What was it like training with India’s Senior Men’s National Team?
“Oh, man. It was great. Just teaching those guys and trying to help them so they’ll continue to grow as good players. It was a lot of fun.”
You also had the opportunity to show off your coaching skills with a clinic there. Do you think you’ll be bringing any tips back for Coach Van Gundy?
“I’ll let coach do his job, but I feel I do a pretty good job training kids and working out guys and trying to motive them so that they can play better. It’s a good opportunity for me.”
What type of questions are they asking you as a coach?
“They were asking basic questions: How to position themselves on defense to get rebounds and how to guard bigger guys. They were all really very good questions that at first I didn’t know if they were going to ask. They just asked a lot of really good questions, including how to block a shot and get around bigger opponents.”
You arrived in India from China. That was a country in the last decade that has had a boom in NBA fans. Do you see that as a possible scenario in India?
“I do. That’s the goal here is to do that. We understand it’s going to take a lot of time. It’s barely the number-four sport here right now. This is a long-term goal by the NBA, and I’m just happy to be a part of it.”
Cricket is the number-one sport in India. Have you been able to try your skills at it while there?
“No, I haven’t gotten the chance to play. I would actually try to play it though. It seems like a very cool sport.”