NBA players Seth Curry, Robin Lopez head to India to promote basketball

Lopez has played for three NBA teams

Mumbai, April 22, 2016 – NBA players Seth Curry of the Sacramento Kings and Robin Lopez of the New York Knicks will travel to Noida and Mumbai to support the continued growth of basketball by conducting youth clinics and interacting with local fans. 

Curry and Lopez will make their first stop in Noida on 29 April to engage with players at the Reliance Foundation Jr. NBA Elite National Camp. From Noida, the pair will then travel to Mumbai on 1 May for a live television appearance on Sony SIX’s NBA morning show “Around the Hoop.” 

“I understand the game of basketball continues to grow in India,” said Curry.  “I look forward to experiencing the Indian culture and encouraging the kids to lead an active lifestyle through basketball.”

“I can’t wait to visit India for the first time,” said Lopez. “This is a great opportunity to share my knowledge of the game with the local youth and interact with fans.”

The Reliance Foundation Jr. NBA Elite National Camp will be conducted at Jaypee Greens Sports Facility in Noida 28 April to 1 May. The camp will feature the top 12 youth from each state/city in which the program took place, including Punjab, Kerala, Kolkata, Chennai, NCR, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Jaipur and Mumbai.

The Reliance Foundation Jr. NBA program focuses on inspiring youth to adopt a healthy, active lifestyle by integrating basketball into the physical education curriculum in all participating schools. Nearly two million youth have participated in the 2015-16 program.

Seth Curry, undrafted in the 2013 NBA Draft, has played for the Memphis Grizzlies, Cleveland Cavaliers and the Phoenix Suns before joining the Sacramento Kings this season.  Lopez was drafted by the Phoenix Suns with the 15th overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft and has played for the Phoenix Suns, the then-New Orleans Hornets and the Portland Trail Blazers before joining the Knicks this season. 

Since 2006, more than 30 current and former NBA and WNBA players have visited India with the league, including Satnam Singh, Sim Bhullar, Muggsy Bogues, Chris Bosh, Bruce Bowen, Swin Cash, Tamika Catchings, Pau Gasol, Robert Horry, Dwight Howard, Briann January, Jason Richardson and Brian Shaw.