Hoopdarshan

Hoopdarshan Episode 29: 10 Big NBA Playoffs Questions with Zyman Marzuki

As the NBA Playoffs move into the Second Round, Hoopdarshan moves onwards too, keeping a keen eye on the final eight teams competing for the 2016 NBA Championship. On Episode 29 of India's finest basketball podcast, hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok are joined by NBA superfan and Karan's friend Zyman Marzuki to break down TEN BIG QUESTIONS for the NBA Playoffs. Is Tim Duncan truly a Robot? Kevin Durant or Russell Westbrook? Can anyone in the East stop the Cavs? And yes, our thoughts on which team will go all the way to the title

Hoopdarshan Episode 28: Maryland's Varun Ram on NCAA Basketball and his India connection

India's finest basketball podcast, Hoopdarshan, is back! In Episode 28, Maryland's point guard Varun Ram - one of the few Indian-origin players to play in the NCAA March Madness Tournament - joins the podcast to talk about college basketball in the US and his continuing connection to India. Hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok also give a shoutout to the Delhi Capitals, winners of the second season of the UBA Basketball League, and discuss why it's no surprise that Ludhiana happens to be both a capital of Indian basketball and butter chicken. 

Hoopdarshan Episode 27: Basketball Legend Jayasankar Menon and the Indian Basketball Players Association

On Episode 27 of the Indian basketball podcast Hoopdarshan, hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok are blessed to welcome Jayasankar Menon, a retired legend of the game and the Secretary-General of the Indian Basketball Players Association (IBPA). In a candid and entertaining chat, Menon discusses the IBPA's efforts to save basketball from its conflicts in India, his glory days as Indian captain and Asian All Star, future direction of Indian hoops, and why we should thank a reckless Auto-Richshaw-Wallah for his success.

Hoopdarshan Episode 26: NBA All Star Preview with NBA Canada's Payal Doshi

The 2016 NBA All Star Weekend is upon us, and for the first time, basketball's biggest exhibition event will take place outside the United States - in Toronto, Canada. To bring Hoopdarshan listeners closer to the event, we invited Payal Doshi, the Social Media Manager of NBA Canada, to give us a brief buzz of how Toronto has prepared for All Star. Of course, hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok give their unadulterated predictions and expectations for the All Star Weekend, too. We wrap up this episode by speaking to Payal about her experiences with Indian Basketball and reveal a big Bollywood-NBA surprise for ASW. 

Hoopdarshan Episode 25: Deep dive into India's domestic Basketball scene with Gopalakrishnan R.

Few journalists know the domestic Indian basketball scene better than Gopalakrishnan R, the co-creator of Ekalavyas.com and a freelance writer. On Episode 25 of the Indian basketball podcast Hoopdarshan, Gopal joins hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok to take a deep dive into Indian basketball, discussing the latest National basketball championship, rising stars and impressive teams around the country, and the motivations behind Indian basketball players and stakeholders. We also discuss Neha Dhupia's pursuit of Jimmy Butler and sprinkle numerous Indian to NBA comparisons. 

Hoopdarshan Episode 24: The Kobe Episode

Hoopdarshan, the Indian Basketball podcast, has reached its 24th episode, which means that it's just about time to pay homage to Mr. 24 himself, Kobe Bean Black Mamba Bryant. After 20 years in the NBA, Bryant will be retiring at the end of this season. Co-hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok are joined by hoops enthusiast Kunal Mathew to discuss the highs and lows of Kobe's career, his most-memorable moments, his legacy, and his place in the 2016 NBA All Star Team. 

Hoopdarshan Episode 23: Basketball in Exile - How basketball bonds the Tibetan refugee community in India

In early October, Hoopdarshan co-host Karan Madhok traveled to McLeodganj and Dharamshala - hill-stations in the Indian Himalayas home to a vibrant community of Tibetan refugees - with photographer Angad Sodhi to discover how basketball bonds the displaced population together. The epic trip turned into a story for the upcoming issue of SLAM Magazine (# 195) encapsulating together sports, politics, and travel. In Episode 23 of Hoopdarshan, host Kaushik Lakshman, Karan and Angad talk about the story behind the story, featuring the refugees' affinity for basketball, the Tibetans' relationship with China and India, unforgettable characters from McLeodganj, and the quest for the perfect momo. 

Hoopdarshan Episode 22: Coach JD Walsh observes the ascent of Indian Basketball

In 2007, after coaching around the world from the USA to China and Europe, JD Walsh descended to India. Walsh's "JDBasketball" movement spread quickly to all corners of the country, influencing thousands of Indian players & coaches. On Episode 22 of the Hoopdarshan podcast, Walsh joins hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok to talk about the past, present, and future of Indian Basketball, the state of his hometown New York Knicks, and the Pandavs starting 5 from The Mahabharat.

Hoopdarshan Episode 21: From Bengaluru to Team India with Coach GRL Prasad

For decades, Coach R L Prasad Guntupalli - known popularly as GLR Prasad - has been a popular face in the Indian basketball circles, from club-level competitions in Bengaluru to advising from the bench as Team India defeated China in Wuhan last year. On Episode 21 of Hoopdarshan, Prasad joins hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok to talk being Scott Flemming's assistant for the Men's National team, coaching India to victory at 2015 SABA Qualifiers, and the growing basketball scene in Karnataka. Additionally, Kaushik and Karan talk in great detail about the exciting new NBA season, including the Warriors, Tim Duncan, and Kevin Garnett.

Hoopdarshan Episode 20: The Greatest, Latest Bloomer with Amrit Pal Singh

At 19, Amrit Pal Singh was farming with his father in Fattuwal, Punjab when he was first introduced to basketball. At 23, he is one of India's finest basketball players and is playing professionally for the best team in Japan's D-League. Hoopdarshan - India's finest basketball podcast - introduces you to the dictionary definition of a 'Late Bloomer'. Listen in as  Amrit Pal talks to co-hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok about his wild rise from the villages to the Indian hoops elite, his dominant performances in Japan, and finding Butter Chicken in Tokyo.