NBA: Harrison Barnes sees India Games as catalyst for growth of sport

NBA will expand game’s reach as two teams — Indiana Pacers and Sacramento Kings — will travel to India to take part in first-ever NBA India Games on October 4 and 5 in Mumbai. Both games will be played at Dome, in Mumbai’s NSCI Stadium. Top hoopers like Harrison Barnes, De’Aaron Fox, Victor Oladipo, Marvin Bagley III, Myles Turner, and ors are expected to be in action. 

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Barnes relishes India challenge

league has already invested in grassroots infrastructure in India for many years. Barnes has joined growing list of NBA players that have visited India over last few years to promote sport. 27-year-old Kings forward believes that witnessing NBA basketball action will be a surreal experience for sport-crazy fans.

"It’s one thing to promote game, to have people see game on TV and interact on social media. But to be able to experience a preseason game will give fans in India an up-close look what game is all about, to see competition, to see plays, feel excitement. I think that’s what everyone wants to see and everyone wants to promote. So I think it will be a catalyst for game growing in country,” Barnes told a select group of journalists on a global conference call on Thursday night.

Barnes made his first trip to India in April this year and has since traveled to Australia and China for FIBA World Cup games. Despite hectic schedule and traveling, Barnes relishes pre-season challenge. "I’ve been working closely with our medical staff here, our training staff to make sure my body is in peak shape for all travel. So with going to India earlier this year, going to World Cup and w getting ready to go to India again, I’m feeling good. I’m mentally fresh,” said Barnes, who won an NBA Championship with Warriors in 2015.

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Off-court bonding

 trip to India presents a chance for players to bond off court. "Coming into a season, re are always a lot of moving parts regardless of how long you’ve been toger. However, I think biggest thing for us is spending that time toger. I think that’s what we’re looking forward to most about this India trip and about this training camp period," Barnes explained.

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Exposing NBA basketball to Indian fans is a responsibility both teams take pride in. Kings and Pacers will be playing in front of 3,000 youth from India's Jr. NBA program. "To have two great teams come to country, who are going to play, who are hopefully going to be able to interact with fans in arena and on streets when we’re in town, it’s a big moment. I think you have to take a step back and kind of appreciate game of basketball has taken us, what game of basketball has done for so many people and just try to live in that moment," Barnes concluded.

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