Interview with J D Walsh, Basketball coach

He has worked as a basketball trainer for hundreds of players including former and current NBA and WNBA players Shay Doron, Troy Murphy, and Smush Parker. He started JD Walsh Basketball School, or JDBASKETBALL School, in 1998 in Great Neck, NY to teach local kids in the New York metro area the fundamentals of basketball. He has conducted over 75 camps in cities such as Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, Midnapore, Mumbai, New Delhi,Pune, Patiala, and Trivandrum for over 5,000 Indian youth. He has conducted clinics for eight State Basketball Associations in addition to coaches’ clinics for Kolkata’s West Bengal Basketball Association, Pune’s Fergusson College, Tamil Nadu Basketball Association, and the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu.

This interview happened with JD Walsh, on his visit to Chennai for conducting coaching camp organized by Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu. He shared his views and opinions regarding Indian basketball and sports administration in basketball:

Me with the Famous Basketball Coach JD Walsh

Rajalingam: What’s your opinion about basketball in Chennai?

J D Walsh: Chennai can be called as the basketball capital of India. There is still untapped talent in this city. I would say SDAT is a professional state sports authorities in India. The women’s players are getting better in Chennai.

Rajalingam: What are the ways of promoting the game in India?

J D Walsh: You have to bring in the basketball culture in the country. There should be a professional league in place. Still much of the market is fragmented, and it has to be cemented together.

Rajalingam: What do you think about women basketball players in India?

J D Walsh: Women’s performance has been improving in the recent period. More emphasis is give to women here. Players like Shiba Maggon, Divya and Aparna Gosh are live example sof this scenario

Rajalingam: What is your opinion on taking Basketball as a profession and the level of game in India?

J D Walsh: There should be more incentives for playing the game. More money is needed to promote and develop the game. It’s the fastest growing game in Asia. It’s the No.1 game in Philippines and China. It might take another 10 years for the same thing to happen in India.

Rajalingam: How do you think, basketball ca be made more media friendly?

J D Walsh: The game should be packaged well and should be made more interesting. The media’s news requirements is are not properly rendered. Stories should be unique and different for gaining media attention.

Rajalingam: Do you support the Alternate formats like 3 on 3 and corporate tournaments?

J D Walsh: It can be used for corporate teams. Team bonding is lacking in India, These events can also be used as a tool to build the character of the employees.

Rajalingam: What’s the state of Basketball infrastructure in the country and your views?

J D Walsh: It should catch up as a wildfire. Every municipality should have a basketball court. And people should remember basketball is an indoor game and not an outdoor game altogether.

Rajalingam: How do you compare the Indian system with the American system?

J D Walsh: Indian system is completely different from the US system. In these 4 years, I have seen good improvement. You can’t help those people who always complain, because the complaining attitude I inbuilt in the people.

Rajalingam: Is the game getting more professional in India?

J D Walsh: With the recent IMG-Reliance tie-up, BFI is growing up as a money-rich professional organization. With this money, they can hire more professionals which obviously is good for the game. BFI secretary, Harish Sharma is really doing a good job in developing the game in India.

Rajalingam: How more basketball talent can be developed in India?

J D Walsh: Incentives are missing here, for the players to take up the game. The college scholarships are one way to motivate the players to play the game. Professional leagues should be in place for bringing in more players into the game.