India has basketball talent but needs better structure and exposure, says former coach Veselin Matic

Former India Basketball head coach Veselin Matic believes India possesses immense talent at the youth level but lacks the structure and competitive exposure required to consistently produce elite international players. The Serbian coach, who guided the Indian national team between 2019 and 2024, shared his views during a recent visit to New Delhi as a FIBA instructor.

Matic was in the capital for a coaches’ development programme organised with support from FIBA and the International School Sports Organisation (ISSO), focusing on improving basketball coaching standards in schools.

Matic calls for stronger school and club structure

Matic stressed that India must strengthen its basketball ecosystem by developing both school and club competitions.

“We need to train more school teachers as coaches. That will help the game grow in schools. Along with clubs, the school and university systems are also essential for developing basketball,” Matic said.

According to the former India coach, the country has plenty of promising players at the under-14 and under-15 levels. However, many struggle to continue their development because of the limited number of well-structured clubs.

He added that schools often have better sporting facilities than clubs and should play a bigger role in nurturing future basketball talent.

Need for greater international exposure

Matic also highlighted the lack of high-quality international competition as a major obstacle for Indian basketball.

He pointed out that India frequently competes against regional opponents such as the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan, but rarely faces stronger Asian nations outside age-group tournaments.

“Domestic tournaments and national camps are not enough. Players need regular exposure against stronger international teams to improve,” he explained.

Selection should focus on basketball skills

The Serbian coach believes talent identification should prioritise basketball ability rather than physical attributes alone.

According to Matic, selectors often focus heavily on height and athleticism instead of evaluating a player’s understanding of the game, decision-making and technical skills.

Encouraged by India’s recent progress

Matic praised the progress made by current head coach Scott Flemming, crediting him for bringing greater stability to the national team. He also acknowledged India’s encouraging performance at the 2026 FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup, where the team defeated higher-ranked Bahrain and Kazakhstan during the qualifying stage.

Despite those positive signs, Matic believes sustained investment in grassroots coaching, player development and regular international competition will be essential if India is to become a consistent force in Asian basketball.