Hoops & Hip-Hop: NBA’s ‘Hoop Nation’ Returns with Fresh Indian Stories

The NBA has kicked off the second season of its acclaimed docuseries, “Hoop Nation,” in India, bringing fresh energy and powerful stories from the country’s basketball courts. This season, the series blends inspiring journeys with the pulse of new-age Indian hip-hop, spotlighting how basketball is changing lives and communities across India.

 

Key Highlights:

 

“Hoop Nation” Season II is a four-part lyrical docuseries now streaming on the NBA India YouTube channel, featuring stories from Kashmir, Kerala, Kolkata, and Mumbai.

 

The series tells the real-life stories of Ishrat Akhter, an international wheelchair basketball player from Baramulla, Kashmir; Deepak P. Babu, a fan, mentor, and content creator from Alappuzha, Kerala; the Lao family, a father-daughter duo from Kolkata’s Indo-Chinese community; and Farooque Shaikh, a dedicated mentor from Mumbai’s Nagpada neighborhood.

 

This season, storytelling is driven by top Indian hip-hop artists: Straight Outta Srinagar (SOS), ThirumaLi, EPR Iyer, and QK. Their original lyrics and beats capture the challenges, dreams, and victories of players and coaches who use basketball to uplift their communities.

 

The docuseries is presented in collaboration with Skechers, which also supports the ACG Jr. NBA program—the largest school-based basketball initiative in India, reaching over 4,000 youth from more than 500 schools last year.

 

NBA India Country Head Rajah Chaudhry says the series “embodies the spirit of basketball in India—a game that unites, inspires, and drives change.”

Hoop Nation aims to inspire the next generation of athletes and highlight the role of sport and music in shaping modern India.

 

Source: SocialNews.XYZ, Deccan Chronicle, News18, Adgully, NewKerala