India men’s basketball coach Scott Flemming to step down after 12 years
(Courtesy : @scottwflemming/Instagram)
India will face Qatar later this month in the FIBA World Cup 2027 Qualifiers.
Indian men’s basketball team head coach, Scott Flemming, has decided to step down after serving the country for 12 years. He will discontinue the role following the second window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers, where India are scheduled to play against Qatar (February 28) and Lebanon (March 3).
Flemming has served the Indian team in two stints, as he was the head coach between 2012 and 2015. Then, he was again appointed the head coach in 2024 and replaced Serbia’s Veselin Matic.
The key achievements during his first tenure were winning the FIBA Asia Cup 2014 game against China, winning the South Asian Basketball Championships twice, and clinching a gold medal at the Lusofonia Games 2014.
Flemming has spent 12 years in India, while also serving as the Director of Basketball Operations and the Technical Director (Head Coach) of the NBA Academy.
In a statement on social media, Flemming said:
“I have been working in India now for a total of 12 years. Two times as the India National Basketball Coach and also with the NBA, as the Director of Basketball Operations and the Technical Director (Head Coach) of the NBA Academy. I have no regrets, and my wife (Chawn) and I can’t imagine our lives without India.”
Further, Scott Flemming expressed his satisfaction with India’s performance on the court and will cherish the friendship with the people in India.
“I am proud of our accomplishments on the court, but it is about the people, the players, coaches, and all the lifelong friends we have made. We are now being led to make a transition,” he added.
Flemming will head back to the US, as he has accepted a full-time position with Athletes in Action. The 67-year-old opined that the role would help him continue the basketball journey and also make a difference in athletes’ lives.
The American has gained experience of around 40 years in coaching and has been a recipient of the National Coach of the Year award in the US Collegiate System twice (1998, 2000).
Scott Flemming spoke highly of the Indian team last year
In April 2025, Scott Flemming made a positive remark on the Indian team’s future in the international circuit. The comments came after India qualified for the Asia Cup in the 5×5 format, where they prevailed over teams like Iraq and Bahrain. They also advanced to the quarter-finals of the 3×3 Asia Cup for the first time after 12 years.
According to Flemming, the Indian team will produce their finest performances in the coming years due to most of the in-form players being in their 20s. He felt that as the players would gain experience, their performance would help the Indian team return with more results in their favor.
“I have told people that the peak of this team will come in three or four years because we have several players in their early 20s who are already performing at high levels. When these players reach their mid to late 20s, that is when we will be at our best.
“We are going to work towards getting there as quickly as possible, and in many ways, we already have. I talk to our guys a lot about narrowing the gap with the Chinese, Koreans and Iranians. We are not there yet but are slowly catching up.”
However, the FIBA Asia Cup 2027 Qualifiers began on a disappointing note for India in November 2025, as they lost both their games against Saudi Arabia.
When will Scott Flemming step down as head coach of Indian men’s basketball team?
Flemming will resign from his role following the second window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers.
Why will Scott Flemming step down as head coach of Indian men’s basketball team?
Flemming will head back to the USA, where he has accepted a full-time position with Athletes in Action (AIA), a sports organization.
How long has Scott Flemming been the head coach of Indian men’s basketball team?
Flemming is currently in his second stint as the head coach, having been appointed to the role in 2024. He had also previously served as the head coach between 2012 and 2015.
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Farzan is a journalist at Khel Now covering Indian Olympic sports and kabaddi. With five years of experience working with major sports organizations like Chennaiyin FC, Dabang Delhi K.C., Rajasthan Royals, and Yuva Kabaddi Series, he brings diverse expertise. Farzan has covered two Olympics, one Commonwealth Games, and one Asian Games, making his knowledge of Indian sports broad and versatile.