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    The Indian Eye
                                            Op-Ed                                                                                           11
                                                                                                                         JULY 10, 2026

            draws  inspiration  from  NBA  leg-
            end Kobe Bryant, whose dedication
            and discipline continue to influence
            players around the world. Bryant’s
            famous  “Mamba  Mentality,”  a
            philosophy centered  on  relentless
            self-improvement and resilience, re-
            mains a source of motivation for her.

              Training from an NBA Hall of
                         Famer

                  he opportunity to learn extend-
                  ed  beyond  drills  and  scrim-
            Tmages.  Students  also  heard
            from NBA Hall of Famer Vlade Di-
            vac , whose career with the Los An-
            geles Lakers, Charlotte Hornets, and
            Sacramento Kings helped make him
            one of basketball’s most recognizable
            international players.
                Speaking  to  participants,  Divac
            emphasized  that  success  is  not  de-
            termined by where someone begins.
            Drawing  on  his  journey,  he  encour-
            aged students to focus on hard work,
            discipline, and education as they
            pursue their goals. “It doesn’t matter
            where  you’re  born,”  he  said.  “You
            can achieve your dreams anyway, but
            you have to do the right things.”   Students got a chance to interact with NBA Hall of Famer Vlade Divac (left) during the Freedom 250 Slam Dunk Experience at the American
                Divac also stressed the impor-
            tance  of  balancing  athletic  and  ac-                          Center New Delhi. (Photograph by Rakesh Malhotra)
            ademic  development,  noting  that    For Rudrakshi, the experience   documenting  the  country’s  growing   he  says.  “It’s  just  uniting  people  in
            dedication both on and off the court   highlighted  common  ground  be-  basketball culture.          a very unique way, and that’s what’s
            can  create  opportunities  for  young   tween young people in India and the   “Sports, arts, and music: these are   amazing about it.”
            players. “If you love the game, if you
            work hard, if you do well in school,   United States. “We get to know what   some things that surpass all boundar-  Building a global future for
                                              they think, how they are, the men-
                                                                                ies,” he says.
            basketball definitely gives you a path                                                                           basketball
                                                                                    Pavdighada  feels  basketball  cre-
            to become an NBA player,” he said.   tality for the sport, and our common   ates a sense of unity in a way few oth-  Divac  sees  significant  potential
                                              ground,” she says.
                For  students  aspiring  to  com-
                                                  Basketball trainer and content
            pete internationally, the message was   creator  Devansh  Pavdighada  has   er platforms can. The relationships   for basketball in India. “India is a
                                                                                he built through the sport continue
                                                                                                                  great big country, and we would love
            clear: talent matters, but commit-
            ment and preparation matter just as   experienced  those  connections  first-  to shape his life and career.    to help them develop, especially kids,
                                                                                                                  for basketball,” he says.
                                              hand. After studying and training in
                                                                                   “Basketball helped me so much
            much. Divac reminded participants   the United States, he now works in   in making friends, meeting new peo-  While  acknowledging  cricket’s
            that opportunities can emerge from   India to develop young talent while   ple,  and  even  building  confidence,”  enduring  popularity,  Divac  believes
            unexpected  places  for  those  willing
            to invest in their  development. “If                                                                  basketball  can  continue  to  grow
                                                                                                                  alongside it. The enthusiasm and tal-
            you do love the game, if you work on                                                                  ent displayed by students throughout
            your game, if you develop your game,                                                                  the event reinforced that belief.
            down the road, you never know, you                                                                        For Divac, India’s future in bas-
            can end up in the NBA,” he said.
                                                                                                                  ketball is part of a larger story about
             U.S.-India sports diplomacy in                                                                       the sport’s ability to connect people
                         action                                                                                   across borders. Over the course of
                                                                                                                  his career, basketball has connect-
                  eyond basketball skills, the                                                                    ed him to people and communities
                  event created opportunities                                                                     around the world, demonstrating the
            Bfor  meaningful  conversations.                                                                      game’s global reach.
            Several  students  said  that  interact-                                                                  The Freedom 250 Slam Dunk
            ing  with  U.S.  coaches,  players,  and                                                              Experience  reflected  that  spirit.  By
            representatives  gave  them  a  deeper                                                                bringing  together  students,  coach-
            understanding of the people and per-                                                                  es, and NBA representatives, the
            spectives behind the sport.                                                                           event  showcased  how  sport  can  in-
                Theo, a student participant, said                                                                 spire young people, create new oppor-
            the event stood out because of how   More than 150 students from schools and basketball academies across Delhi gathered to meet   tunities, and strengthen connections
            interactive it felt. “They made sure   representatives from the NBA, the premier professional basketball league in the United States   between India and the United States.
            no one felt left out,” she says. “It was   and home to many of the sport’s biggest stars. (Photograph by Rakesh Malhotra)  As Divac put it,
            very holistic.”                                                                                          “SPORTS UNITE PEOPLE.”

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