Milwaukee Bucks centre Brook Lopez feels that an IPL like professional league to enhance the popularity of basketball in India.
During his visit to India in May earlier this year, former LA Lakers star Lopez took out time to witness an IPL match of Mumbai Indians.
"India needs a professional basketball league, just like Indian version of NBA or IPL. While I was in India I watched an IPL match and noticed the craze for cricket and the league. I think in India, the interest for basketball is there, but it needs something like an IPL," Lopez told PTI in an interview on the sidelines of the Jr NBA World Championships here.
"India needs to create platform or competitive basketball. I think India needs to have more situations like the Jr NBA Academy, give kids a chance to watch the games, see NBA stars play and think this is what I want to do to be a basketball player," he added.
The Milwaukee Bucks star emphasized on the need to give more emphasis to the grassroot level.
"India need to have more basktball courts. They need the foundation. There needs to be more of these Jr NBA academies. The kids need more access to coaching, trainers etc," Lopez said.
"India need more situations like the Jr NBA Academy where kids can come, play and work together, build the foundation."