IND - Muggsy spreads love of hoops in India

NEW DELHI (NBA) - Muggsy Bogues was the most popular player to wear a Charlotte Hornets uniform.

The shortest player at 5ft 3in (1.59m) ever to play in the NBA, Bogues dived on the floor for loose balls, played relentless defense and developed a respectable jump shot.

The fans, watching him go up against bigger opponents, loved him.

Now 47 years of age, Bogues remains hugely popular because of what he did in basketball.

He's not far from the game, though.

Bogues, a coach in Charlotte at United Faith Christian Academy, only just returned home after a trip to New Delhi to promote the sport.

"I feel like this is my mission - to help introduce kids to basketball everywhere," said Bogues, who went to India at the behest of the NBA.

It was his ability to compete in the toughest league in the world with four different NBA teams for 14 years, despite his height, that still leaves people shaking their heads in disbelief.

"The culture of the sport says there's no place for someone my size," Bogues said.

"But if you pursue it, chase it, great things can happen.

"My presence is probably more powerful than anything I could say."

Bogues was in New Delhi and coached 75 youngsters at a clinic for an afternoon.

FIBA