NBA's India Debut Was A Knockout And We Need More For Basketball To Take-Off & Develop

National Basketball Association's much anticipated India debut got off to a rollicking start as Indiana Pacers beat Sacramento Kings 132-131 in an absolute thriller.

Amid the glamour, glitz and frenzy, Mumbai was wowed as both NBA clubs put on a grand show to a thunderous crowd at the NSCI Dome.

After the regulation time ended at 118-118, the match was decided in the extra five minutes when the Pacers, who were trailing throughout the match, went ahead for the first-time and managed to eke out a close win.

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For a sport that hasn't taken off in India and continuous to fight on the fringes, NBA India Games might actually help the sport grow in the country. It should bring the sport the swagger it lacks in the country.

Many top sports in our country have commercial leagues, but basketball is yet to find investment or market. We have the Indian Premier League (cricket), Indian Super League(football), Pro Kabaddi League (Kabaddi), Hockey India League (Hockey), yet there is no similar for basketball.

NBA is one of the most popular and watched leagues in the world - attracting the top players across the world, with a revenue amounting to billions of dollars.

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Even if we aren't ardent followers of basketball and NBA, we have heard the names of the current top crop of players Lebron James, Kyrie Irving, Stephen Curry, and the former famous legends like Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Shaquille O¡¯Neal.

India has it's own NBA connection - the owner of Sacramento Kings is Mumbai born Vivek Ranadive, the man who pushed for the games to be held in his hometown.

Ranadive takes keen interest in the sport and also owned a stake previously of another NBA side Golden State Warriors. He is trying his bit to help basketball grow in India and is of the view that India's market and talent can fulfill its potential and sees a bright future for the sport.

Vivek Ranadiv¨¦/NBC Sports

The 2015 season of the NBA was a memorable one for India and one where more people took notice of the sport - when Punjab born Satnam Singh became the first Indian drafted into the National Basketball Association (NBA) when the Dallas Mavericks selected him with the 52nd overall pick of the 2015 NBA draft.

It was an unprecedented feat, and was seen as path-breaker for many Indian basketball aspirants to strive and go the distance, but the game really hasn't picked.

The debut of NBA India Games might be the right catalyst for the change to happen. Not only will these games bring more audiences, it will act as a precursor for more international tournaments to be hosted by the country.

Satnam Singh/ESPN

With Bollywood and business magnate Mukesh Ambani in attendance, the game between Indiana Pacers and Sacramento Kings gave a fitting picture of what NBA and basketball has to offer - sensational talent, exceptional play, and vocal crowds.

The NBA passed its Indian audition with aplomb, wit another game today - it promises to be another feast and exhibition of crazy manoeuvres.

For basketball to develop and take the next big stride in India, NBA India Games is a perfect platform to launch the next big chapter - where the sport is a force to be reckoned with.