Baron Davis, the Los Angeles Clippers’ point guard, has a passion for films. It makes his visit to Mumbai, the entertainment capital of India, even more special.
Baron Davis, the Los Angeles Clippers’ point guard, has a passion for films. It makes his visit to Mumbai, the entertainment capital of India, even more special.
The basketball star is in the city to kick-off NBA’s Jam initiative, in partnership with the Basketball Federation of India (BFI). Jam is an interactive event which includes youth clinics, skill competitions and a question and answer session where fans can get to know the player.
Kicking off the event in Mumbai, where it will be held in two phases (July 3-5 Phoenix Mills and July 10-12 Nirmal Lifestyle) before it moves to Delhi and then Bangalore, Davis talked about how the game changed his life.
“Basketball is a creative outlet and it can be therapeutic too. It kept me away from gang violence and drugs,” Davis said.
The 6 ft 3 inch tall star sees tremendous potential in India and believes that the sport can catch on in the country. He believes that in ten years India can have the same influence in the NBA as China does now. “It won’t surprise me if the next Yao Ming or Chris Paul is from India,” he said.
This two-time NBA All Star attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) from where he was drafted into the NBA by the Charlotte Hornets in his sophomore year in 1999. He pursued his love for films at UCLA and now wants to direct a film based on basketball. He even wants to make a film in India.
Speaking about his early years and the time when he was drafted at the age of 19 he said, “Between 4 and 19, I just lived to play basketball. And I was so happy that all my hard work paid off in the end.”
At the meet, Davis encouraged children to take up the sport. He said, “Sport can inspire people, even just watching others play. No body should be stopped from following their dreams.”
Davis says the greatest NBA players off all time are Michael Jordon and Magic Johnson. But he’d rather be playing against them than with them because, “You learn more about people when you play against them.”
All about Baron
Name: Baron Davis; Height: 6ft 3 Weight: 102 kg; Country: USA
Current team: Los Angeles Clippers
Teams played in: Charlotte Hornets, Golden State Warriors, LA Clippers
University attended: UCLA
Awards: Two-time All-Star
Started playing at the age of 3
Drafted to the NBA at the age of 19
Heads ‘Verso Entertainments’, a Hollywood production company
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