Satnam has made the dream of playing NBA tangible for Indians: Briann January

NBA player who was recently in the city to promote the game, spoke about a new basketball initiative, first Indian NBA player Satnam Singh, and Mahatma Gandhi Briann January grew up playing basketball with her friends in Washington, US, and discovered her passion for the game early on. Today, she plays professionally for Indiana Fever in the Women’s National Basketball Association. Briann was recently in the city at the launch of the ACG-NBA Jump, India’s first national basketball talent search programme, to provide hoopsters from India an opportunity to develop their skills in basketball.

The 2012 WNBA title Champion believes that eventually, India could surely benefit with a pro-basketball league on the lines of the NBA. Talking about the new initiative, she said, “This program will help children learn a lot about basketball while they’re young. They will continue to work on their game and skills, and by the time they are 18 or 20 years old, they will be skilled basketball players who will be able to compete around the world.”

With Satnam Singh becoming the first Indian-born basketball player to be picked by an NBA team earlier this year, her message for the young and aspiring players in India was crisp and clear— “Satnam’s entry into an NBA team should inspire a lot of players in India. Satnam has made the dream of playing in the big leagues tangible for Indian basketball players. They should hold on to their dreams.”

Briann has mentioned in the past that she is a Mahatma Gandhi follower. The freedom fighter’s understanding of philosophies and principles are some of the attributes that inspired the basketball star. Briann said, “I could be here talking all day about Mahatma Gandhi. I would really want to soak up his knowledge and his understanding of the world. His principles are something that I would love to practise and something that more people should embrace.”

Briann was selected for the USA Women’s National Team pool in 2013. Talking about her experience on playing for the national team, she said, “You are playing with some of the best players in the world. We have an outstanding women’s basketball program in the USA and just to be able to contribute to the team’s success is an honour.”Briann has also spent time on the coaching side of the sport — she volunteered as an assistant coach for the Adelphi University Women’s Basketball Program in 2013-2014. She admits that the stint has helped her understand the game better. She says, “The stint gave me a new perspective on basketball. As a point-guard (a position in basketball), you are an extension of your coach. Being on the coaching staff actually inspired me to pursue coaching after I stop playing.”

Briann sustained repeated knee injuries, the latest coming in the first half of game 5 of the WNBA finals against Minnesota Lynx earlier this year. The point-guard still carried on, bagging 13 points and three assists to her name. When enquired about the key to her courage and attitude, she reveals, “The will to win kept me going. I would have had to lose a leg to get off the court. That’s how badly I wanted to win. I was willing to give everything that I had for my teammates because we wanted to win together. I wanted to be a champion and I wanted to help my team be successful.”