The NBA, in collaboration with Skechers, has launched Season 2 of “Hoop Nation”, a four-part lyrical docuseries now streaming on the NBA India YouTube channel. This season continues to spotlight inspiring grassroots basketball stories across India, told through the lens of Indian hip-hop.
Presented by Skechers, the new season profiles:
- Ishrat Akhter, a wheelchair basketball player from Kashmir
- Deepak P. Babu, a content creator and mentor from Kerala
- The Lao Family, representing Kolkata’s Indo-Chinese community
- Farooque Shaikh, a youth coach from Nagpada, Mumbai
Their stories are brought to life by renowned Indian hip-hop voices including Straight Outta Srinagar, ThirumaLi, EPR Iyer, and QK, using original lyrics and regional beats to amplify voices from Srinagar, Alappuzha, Kolkata, and Mumbai.
Rajah Chaudhry, NBA India Country Head, said Hoop Nation Season 2 “unites, inspires, and drives change,” while Rahul Vira, CEO of Skechers South Asia, reaffirmed the brand’s commitment to nurturing Indian basketball talent through initiatives like Hoop Nation and the ACG Jr. NBA Program—India’s largest school-based basketball initiative.
Skechers also equips players with “Comfort That Performs” basketball shoes, as worn by elite NBA stars like Joel Embiid and Julius Randle, bridging grassroots efforts with global performance.
This collaboration continues to merge authentic storytelling, youth engagement, and high-performance innovation, creating a unique cultural and athletic movement across the country.