Mumbai, Oct 28 (IANS): National Basketball Association (NBA) legend Bruce Bowen will be coming to India for a week-long promotional tour starting Oct 31 to support the continued growth of basketball and to connect with fans in the country.

Bowen will travel to Kolkata, Gurgaon, Chandigarh and Ludhiana to conduct basketball clinics for players and coaches and interact and engage with fans at two of the NBA’s premier events in India, NBA Jam and the Reliance Foundation Junior NBA programme.

Bowen is a three-time NBA Champion with the San Antonio Spurs (2003, 2005 and 2007) and was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team on five occasions (2004-2008).

“We are committed to the growth of basketball in India and Bruce Bowen’s upcoming visit is another step forward in this endeavour,” said Yannick Colaco, NBA India Managing Director.

Bowen said the popularity of basketball is growing rapidly in India and more and more children are picking up the game.

“I can’t wait to experience this for myself and to help train and interact with the promising young talent the country has to offer,” he said.

Bowen's first stop would be Kolkata, Oct 31-Nov 1, where he will engage with students at St. Xavier’s College as part of NBA Jam.

From Kolkata, Bowen will travel to Gurgaon Nov 2, where he will participate in a special fan engagement event at Cyber Hub, where fans across the NCR region will have the chance to meet Bowen, win exclusive NBA merchandise and witness NBA-style entertainment.

From there, Bowen will visit Chandigarh Nov 4 to participate in the next leg of the NBA Jam at Punjab University. Bowen will make the last and final stop of his tour in Ludhiana, Nov 5-6 at the Guru Nanak Stadium during the Reliance Foundation Jr. NBA City Finals, where he will work with standout young players and coaches from across Punjab.