NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said that in what "could be a major boost for basketball in India," the country may host a preseason NBA game in Mumbai next year, according to the PTI. In May '17, the league launched the NBA Academy, an elite basketball training center at Jaypee Greens Integrated Sports Complex in Greater Noida, to promote the game in the subcontinent. NBA's initiative "has been yielding desired results as 20 odd boys and girls from New Delhi and Bengaluru" represented India in the recently-concluded Jr. NBA World Championships. Silver said, "We had India represented here. We have an academy on the ground now. We are potentially looking to play a game in Mumbai, maybe next year. It would be a preseason game." He added that the league is "determined to break the barriers in India by collaborating with the Reliance Foundation." Silver: "We are very focused on the Indian market. We have a great relationship with Reliance and Mukesh Ambani and he and his wife's foundation. There is enormous amount of grassroots basketball being played in India" (PTI, 8/13).
