NBA India Launches 'Hoop Nation' Season 2, Highlights Indian Basketball Stories

Last Updated:June 25, 2025, 16:28 IST

NBA launched "Hoop Nation" season two, showcasing basketball stories from India, featuring players like Ishrat Akhter and Deepak P. Babu, with music by Indian hip-hop artists.

Hoop Nation S2E2 ft. Deepak P. Babu (C) (YouTube/@NBAIndia)

The National Basketball Association (NBA) has announced the launch of the second season of “Hoop Nation," a four-part docuseries that highlights compelling basketball stories from across India. Following the success of its inaugural season, season two delves into the lives of Ishrat Akhter, an international wheelchair basketball player from Baramulla, Kashmir; Deepak P. Babu, a devoted fan, mentor, and content creator from Alappuzha, Kerala; the Lao family, a father-daughter pair from Kolkata’s Indo-Chinese community; and Farooque Shaikh, a committed mentor from Mumbai’s Nagpada neighborhood.

“Hoop Nation season two embodies the spirit of basketball in India – a game that unites, inspires, and drives change. Skechers shares the NBA’s goal of growing basketball in India and providing fans and players across the country with more opportunities to engage with the league and the game," said Rajah Chaudhry, NBA Asia Head of Strategy and NBA India Country Head.

The new season features contemporary Indian hip-hop artists who bring the stories to life: Straight Outta Srinagar (SOS), leading Kashmir’s underground music scene; Thirumali, a significant figure in the Malayalam hip-hop community; EPR Iyer, a pioneer of the Indian hip-hop movement from Kolkata; and QK, an emerging talent from Mumbai known for her unique blend of rapping and singing.

Through their powerful, original lyrics and beats, these artists capture the challenges and victories of players, fans, and coaches from Alappuzha, Kashmir, Kolkata, and Mumbai, who have used basketball to shape their communities and inspire the next generation of athletes.

The lyrical docuseries is now available on the NBA India YouTube channel, along with accompanying music videos.

The NBA has been proactive in nurturing grassroots basketball in India. The Hoop Nation documentary follows the successful ACG Jr. NBA program, a nationwide 3v3 tournament for top U-14 players, and the largest school-based basketball initiative in the country, which engaged more than 4,000 youth from over 500 schools across India last year.

(With IANS inputs)

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