The NBA, in collaboration with Skechers, has officially launched Season 2 of Hoop Nation—a four-part docuseries celebrating India’s grassroots basketball stories through the powerful medium of lyrical hip-hop. The docuseries is streaming on the NBA India YouTube channel (@NBAIndiaOfficial) with bonus music videos.
Presented by Skechers, this season explores inspiring journeys of basketball players and mentors from across India:
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Ishrat Akhter, a wheelchair basketball athlete from Baramulla, Kashmir
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Deepak P. Babu, a Kerala-based mentor and content creator
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The Lao family, a father-daughter duo from Kolkata’s Indo-Chinese community
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Farooque Shaikh, a youth coach from Nagpada, Mumbai
All participants are seen sporting Skechers Basketball footwear, showcasing the brand’s performance innovation and comfort.
Each story is brought to life through original music by Indian hip-hop artists, including:
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Straight Outta Srinagar (SOS) from Kashmir
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ThirumaLi, a Malayalam rap icon
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EPR Iyer, a Kolkata-based hip-hop veteran
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QK, Mumbai’s breakout rapper-singer
Through original verses and beats, these artists narrate the triumphs, challenges, and community impact of the basketball journeys featured in the series.
Rajah Chaudhry, Head of NBA India, noted that the series reflects the game’s deep emotional and cultural connection with Indian youth. He emphasized the league’s partnership with Skechers as a shared mission to grow the sport locally.
Rahul Vira, CEO of Skechers South Asia, echoed this sentiment:
“Our continued collaboration with the NBA through Hoop Nation and the ACG Jr. NBA program supports our mission to empower young talent and provide them with elite-level gear.”
Beyond content, Skechers also supports basketball development in India. The brand served as the official kit partner for the ACG Jr. NBA Program, India’s largest U-14 school-based basketball initiative, which engaged over 4,000 students from 500+ schools last year.
With this partnership, NBA and Skechers aim to inspire communities, drive long-term impact, and highlight India’s growing basketball culture.
