IND - Natt: Wide eyed Indians dreaming of Olympics

WUHAN (FIBA Asia Championship) - You won't be seeing India playing basketball in the London Olympics, but this new hoops nation with a population of over 1.2 billion people could well be there some day, according to Kenny Natt.

Natt was an assistant coach with Utah and Cleveland in the NBA, and briefly led Sacramento as an interim coach. As part of the NBA and Indian government's initiative to grow the sport in the cricket loving nation, Natt is now head coach of basketball, in charge of both the men's national team and junior development.

He spoke to fiba.com after India's final preliminary round, an 84-53 loss to Korea, backing up from losses to Lebanon and Malaysia in the dying seconds.

FIBA: First of all, how did you come to be head coach of India?
NATT: It was an opportunity to come to India and improve the game of basketball and that's my livelihood, coaching and teaching. Unlike the NBA where you don't get a lot of opportunities to teach, this is a great opportunity to get back to the fundamentals of basketball, teaching these inspired young players and developing them so they can become like the Korean team or the Chinese team.

FIBA: How are things progressing, and has it been rewarding work so far?
NATT: It is going to take time, but I am bringing in a lot of NBA drills to improve their fundamentals and techniques, and that is going to help them in the years to come. I am cherishing this opportunity.

FIBA: What was the biggest challenge you faced when you started job?
NATT: The challenge was the lack of infrastructure there. I've worked to organise it, bring some NBA ideas in, clean up some things that shouldn't happen to help guys get better, giving the players some hope and dignity. The federation has been great in giving me everything I need to improve the game of basketball there, and the Indian government is paying all of us, so they are really supporting me in trying to get everything that these players need, so I am ecstatic about that.

FIBA: You were an assistant under the great Jerry Sloan, what have you brought from that experience to this job?
NATT: Jerry's a disciplinarian. I've been very strict in teaching these guys to be disciplined, to be on time, to work hard at practice. I am challenging them every day in practice to work harder, they haven't had that before. I am pushing them beyond the limit they have ever been pushed and it's wonderful to watch that come to fruition.

That's why Korea, China, Lebanon, these countries are so good because their coaches are pushing them. India haven't had that opportunity before now and it's going to take a while.

FIBA: Have you identified a style that suits Indian players and athletes, or is it too early for that?
NATT: It's too early for that because we are starting from scratch. I am just trying to improve whatever talent we can find. India has a lot of people but not many basketball players. The talent we find we have to concentrate on improving that. The concentration has to be at the junior and youth level, because in another year or two we will see another roster of inspired young players who want to work hard. The future is bright, but it's going to take a whole lot of time and hard work.

FIBA: Can India realistically make it to Olympic level? How far is that away?
NATT: You don't dare put a date to anything like that. We thought we had improved here (at the FIBA Asia Championship) but we had a drop off. I have been around long enough to know it's very hard to compete without a point guard, they're an extension of the coach out on the floor. Our guys have played hard without a point guard, they've shown they can come out and compete.

FIBA: Is it hard to develop point guards without little kids growing up in India with a ball in their hands, playing the game every day?
NATT: That's the way it happens. Even now I see basketballs being bounced in India, and that's when you know you are getting there. When you can drive down the street and you see the ball under the arm, or someone's dribbling the ball or they're playing basketball in the park, that's when you know they're getting the message of basketball. The Indian people love it, it's just a matter of us continuing to expose them to it.

FIBA: So you are confident that one day Indian basketball will be challenging for a spot at the Olympics?
NATT: Absolutely. I definitely believe that because I know the inspired young players we have now that are just 12-14 years old. Their eyes are wide open, they're excited about seeing me and learning more and getting to be better ball players.

FIBA: Finally, you have a very young team, by design. Tell us about some of the future stars to watch out for?
NATT: Obviously Satnam (Bharama, a 216cm centre) is definitely one of the prospects of the future. He has a great big body, he is very young, just 15, and as we get him stronger, get him in a weight training program, work on his mobility, who knows? He is continuing to grow and who knows what (height) he will get to, but he needs to be stronger. He is fundamentally sound, left hand, right hand, has good skills so it is just a matter of time.

The other guy is Amjyot (Singh). He is only 17, and that's the future of India, guys like that getting better. And I think it is just a case of searching out talented young players in India and continuing to try and improve them.

FIBA