NAGPUR: City cager Shomira Bidaye has been selected to play in the inaugural women's NBA Academy games, which began at the Holy Innocents' Episcopal School in Atlanta, US, on Thursday.
The National Basketball Association (NBA), organizer of the world's best basketball league in the US, are conducting the first NBA Academy games for top women prospects from outside the US.
Around 40 players will participate in a series of exhibition games featuring top prospects from the league's four academies located in Australia, India, Mexico and Senegal. All these cagers will be competing against each other and showcase their skills in front of NCAA coaches and WNBA scouts.
The inaugural event will feature 40 players divided in four teams of the top high school-age prospects from outside the US, and two local teams.
Speaking exclusively to TOI, Shomira said, "This is a rare and exciting opportunity for me. In addition to the exhibition games, the NBA Academy coaches and staff are leading all of us through a variety of on and off-court activities, including anthropometric and athletic testing, movement efficiency training, strength and conditioning among other activities."
On the difference in training by coaches of India and in America, the17-year-old said, "While the activities are rigorous, we always feel motivated to do more. As compared to the pressure which most players used to have back in India, coaches here just try to make everything exciting."
The 5-feet-9 guard, who learned the basics of the sport at Shivaji Nagar Gymkhana (SNG) under the guidance of Shatrughna Gokhale and Vinay Chikate, was part of the Indian team for the Jr NBA Global championship held in Florida in 2019. Last year, Shomira, daughter of Shashank and Shivani Bidaye, received a scholarship from Woodside Priory School in California to study and play in the US.
On the difference between her first stint with the NBA in Florida, and where she stands now, Shomira said, "It's a lot of the same people, just grown up and more skilled. I have more knowledge about the game now as I can read things and anticipate better. The only difference left is height, and the athleticism is a little behind, especially compared to the African athletes, but I feel at par with others."
The women's event will also feature a panel discussion about leadership and player pathways led by former WNBA players Elaine Powell and Tamara Moore. The associate vice president of NBA and head of Elite Basketball Chris Ebersole said, "International players are making a significant impact at all levels of the men's and women's game, and this event will help the next generation of international prospects connect with their peers, learn directly from experienced coaches, and continue their development."
Apart from Shomira, Bihar's Muskan Singh and Bhumika Sarje of Maharashtra are the three Indian hoopsters competing at Atlanta.
