June 21, 2017
Last month, 21-year-old Kavita Akula made spectacular news by becoming the first Indian basketball player to win a full NCAA Division 1 scholarship, at the Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona. Now, as she prepares for her summer role as a star point guard for India at the 2017 FIBA Asia Women's Cup, Akula joins the Hoopdarshan podcast to talk about her scholarship, her improvements from IMG Academy to college ball in the USA, and India's chances at the Asia Cup in Bengaluru next month. In addition, co-hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok also review the NBA Finals, Kevin Durant's upcoming visit to India, and India's Men's squad at the 2017 BRICS Games.
May 31, 2017
With two of the greatest assemblies of superstar talent set to meet each other at the game's biggest stage, Warriors vs. Cavaliers III is sure to be a classic NBA Finals matchup. Listen to Hoopdarshan's preview, where Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok join guest Adarsh Dalala Rao to talk about LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Kyrie Irving, lovehating Draymond Green, and why this is set to be the greatest trilogy since the original Star Wars.
May 17, 2017
It's a busy month for basketball, with the NBA Playoffs, Euroleague Final Four, launch of the NBA Academy India, and hoops fever all over the globe. For Episode 26 of Hoopdarshan, Vanja Cernivec - an NBA Operations Specialist currently for the Europe-Middle East-Africa region, joins hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok to talk about all types of hoops: coaching in India, China, Spain, closely observing the Euroleague, NBA playoffs, and the rise of her fellow Slovenian prodigy Luka Doncic
April 14, 2017
After a season of individual historics, we are finally on the cusp of the playoffs. To preview the post-season, Hoopdarshan's hosts Kaushik Lakhsman and Karan Madhok bring on board Ekam Nagra, the CEO and Founder of popular international media outlet 'Ball Don't Stop'. Nagra speaks to us about the most-intriguing storylines ahead, the impossible MVP race, and being awestruck with Allen Iverson.
March 29, 2017
Eban Hyams is a truly global citizen, raised in India and Australia, and with professional basketball experience around the world. Most recently, Hyams has been a part of the UBA Basketball League in India. In Episode 44, he joins Hoopdarshan to talk to hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok about his experience leading the Haryana Gold, the Australian basketball scene, and his favourite emojis.
March 20, 2017
Kerala's Jeena Scaria has quickly become India's finest women's basketball player, a young leader for the Women's national squad, the team's "chechi" (elder sister). In episode 43 of Hoopdarshan, Jeena joins hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok to talk about her expectations for India at the upcoming FIBA Asia Cup on home soil, her leadership in helping Kerala win the Senior Nationals after a three-decade wait, and the scarce opportunities for women in Indian basketball.
February 12, 2017
With the 2017 NBA All Star Weekend around the corner, the Hoopdarshan podcast takes a deep (often ridiculous) dive into the festivities. NBA India expert and best-selling author Akshay Manwani joins co-hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok to talk about the players and events they're most excited for at the All Star Weekend, their predictions, trade chatter, title contenders, and Abhishek Bachchan's on-court skills.
January 30, 2017
Last week, India's largest domestic basketball tournament - the Senior Nationals - concluded in Puducherry, giving fans and scouts a taste of the best talent from around the country. To give us an informed discussion about the rising stars in Indian basketball, the Hoopdarshan podcast called up Himamshu Dabir, the chief of basketball operations for the Basketball Federation of India (BFI), to join us for Episode 41. Dabir shared his expertise with hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok on the most intriguing teams and players from the Senior Nationals, the future names and events to look forward to in Indian basketball, and on India's biggest need: the point guard position.
December 23, 2016
Hoopdarshan, India's finest basketball podcast, celebrates its 40th episode with an interview with Indo-American point guard Inderbir Gill. Gill joins hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok to talk about becoming a college basketball star, coaching NBA in India, starring for a world-renowned 3x3 basketball team, and finding the greatest Butter Chicken in the world. Also discussed: the Satnam Singh documentary and India at the Super Kung Sheung Cup.
