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Shahid Ahmad Bhat is a basketball player based in Kansas, USA. I have been in contact with him since the last two years, discussing various basketball topics. Here are the excerpts of my recent interview with him:
Q. What is your opinion on the current state of basketball in India?
I think it’s an exciting time to be a young player in India. If a player has enough talent and maintains the proper focus, there are opportunities for them to showcase their skills within the current system. Coaches are always looking for standout players who are willing to learn and improve. There’s clearly been an upgrade in the amount of people taking up the sport throughout the country; more courts are available and the game is being promoted by different organizations. The development of elite International prospects, however, is an issue that needs to be addressed.
Q. What is your impression of the current men’s national team?
They have an experienced coach who has been dedicated to the players, and I’ve seen improvement in the way they play together as a team. However, the other major Asian nations we have been chasing are also improving. It’s just a question of whether India can upgrade their talent and take the next step up. To do that I think they will have to bring develop more talent or loosen the rules for NRI’s.
Q. What do you think about talks of a professional basketball league in India?
I haven’t seen any concrete steps taken to establish it. I started following basketball in India extensively in 2007, (and) it’s disappointing because as a player with ancestry in India, I would have been eager to try out for in a league in my homeland after I had graduated college in America. There are a lot of talented Indian basketball players in America and Canada. I played in tournaments in Toronto in 2005 and 2006 and saw that first-hand. The Indo-Pak tournaments in America also attract some of the best players.
In a sense, there already is professional basketball in India. The top club teams pay their players a salary and give them the chance to play regularly in the BFI tournament circuit. The players who play for government service teams or club teams are effectively professionals.
Q. Two Indian players, Satnam Singh and Sim Bhullar, have gotten plenty of attention lately. What is your take on them?
They’ve done a good job representing Indian players. With Satnam, there has been a lot of media hype which I thought is premature. Hopefully he has a long and productive career. I would like to see what his season stats were at IMG the past few years to assess where he is as a player. His size makes him a prospect.
As far as Sim Bhullar is concerned, you can read the scouts’ take on him and what his strengths and weaknesses are. I remember a player named Mark Eaton who played for the Utah Jazz for many seasons. I see similarities.
Q. Having seen basketball in both places first hand, how do you compare the game in India and America?
The system is more efficient and elaborate in America. For example, out there you can read who the top 100 ranked 9th graders are. In India, that wouldn’t be possible.
As for the players, there is a difference in the style of play. In America there is a large pool of elite basketball players. There are a lot of gyms and recreation centres for casual players. The entire culture of basketball is American, even though it’s become an International sport. Pickup basketball is much bigger in America than in India.
On an individual level though, I think growing up in India has some benefits. If a player develops their talent and participates for their home state during the annual national tournaments, they can catch the eye of scouts and be selected for national camps. If they perform well at the camp they can end up representing India in international competitions in different age groups. The upcoming Basketball Without Borders Camp is a good example. The three players were selected after participating in the current system and having some outstanding in-game performances and impressing the coaches during practice.
Q. What about players who claim they were not selected because of corruption?
Corruption exists in all countries in one way or another. I think coaches in India are looking for talent. India wants to improve its standing in basketball in the international community. If you have the talent then they will find you and want you on the team.
Q. What do you think about issues with players falsifying their age?
I think players should focus on improving their talent and participating within the current system. They shouldn’t focus on issues beyond their control. The ball doesn‘t care how old the player is. Just go out and compete. Growing up, I played against older people and it made me better in the long run.
Q. You attended college at Kansas University. How was your experience there?
The Kansas Jayhawks teams are one of the premier teams in NCAA Basketball. They recruit All-American players from across the US and consistently turn out NBA players. Allen Fieldhouse is one of the greatest sporting venues in the world and attending their game is quite an experience. The coach is one of the best in the business. This year the team had numerous NBA players and I had the privilege of attending some private practices and observing them training under the strength and conditioning coach. I also got to play some pickup games with a few of the current and ex-players. Two of their players are projected to go high in this year’s Draft.
Q. Are you playing in any other tournaments?
There is an organization called ABL (Asian Basketball League). They are holding a tournament in Kansas City this weekend which draws some of the best Asian teams from across the US. I’m on an All-Korean team, but they picked me up for the tournament and I’m looking forward to playing with them. I also played in their 2013 League.
Q. What is the state of basketball in Kashmir?
It’s improved. There’s been a few courts built and some tournaments are being organized. The BFI should target Kashmir as a place for improvement. Some coaching camps and events would be welcome there. If NBA India could bring a player there, there would be a great response from the young people. In the time that I was there, I met a lot of people who were eager to learn basketball but felt that they were being neglected.
Q. What happened to the Indian Club Team you wanted to start?
I haven’t given up on the idea at all. I’ve just been chilling out and making some adjustments. I’m still planning on spending time in Delhi this year playing basketball. Also, I plan on participating in the Indo-Pak Chicago Nationals in July, and I’m going to talk with the organizers and some players about the idea of playing an Annual Exhibition game against an Indian Club team. After that, who knows?
Guess the Lakers players!
