The Hindu : Sport / Basketball : Reid promises more visits by NBA coaches

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Wednesday, Jun 07, 2006

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Reid promises more visits by NBA coaches

Sports Reporter

NEW DELHI: Former NBA star Robert Reid has promised to put India on the touring map for NBA coaches.

"There is no reason why NBA should not come to India, but for that to happen, you have to show some improvement in the game," said Reid at the end of his three-day clinic conducted for the coaches and junior players in Ludhiana.

"Physically Indian players are tough given the conditions they play in. In America, our kids play in air-conditioned courts, but then there are other factors where the Indians need to improve," is how Reid summed up his observations of the clinic here on Tuesday.

Himself a vice-president of the retired basketball players' association in Houston, Reid said he would put in a word to the president to have more such clinics here. "Yes there will be a follow-up," he added.

Reid, who played for Houston Rockets for 13 years from 1978, was here on an initiative by Olympian Pargat Singh. As a director of sports in the Punjab Government, Pargat Singh has a plan to bring legends from different sports to train sportspersons.

Reid said that besides the physical toughness, Indian players needed good weight facility, nutrition and able trainers and also shoe sponsorship. "It is a must. Unless the players have good shoes, there will be no better performance," said Reid.

About the clinic and experience he had, Reid said that the coaches were very reluctant at the start, but on the final day a few came up with written questions. "It was like going back to the first grade. But it is important that a coach is ready to learn at any stage of his life," he said.

He had one advice to the players. "Not everyone can be a shooter. Someone has to be in the defence, while someone will have to be the playmaker," advised Reid.

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