'I can't imagine my life without India' - Coach Scott Flemming's vision, adaptation and nurturing Indian basketball 'brick by brick'

Scott Flemming is back as the coach of the Indian basketball team for a second stint.

You cannot talk about Indian basketball’s history without talking about Scott Flemming. The American came to India in 2012 after serving as an assistant coach at Texas Legends in the NBA D-League. His college record was 448-291 during his time at Northwest Nazarene University, Nyack College, and Mount Vernon Nazarene University.

Now overseeing the Indian senior men’s basketball team in his second coaching stint in India, Flemming sat with Khel Now during the 74th Senior Nationals Basketball Championship to share his journey of transformation, resilience, and unwavering commitment to development.

His story is not just about coaching; it’s about transforming basketball in a nation hungry for sporting excellence. “I can’t imagine my life without India,” Scott says, his voice carrying both conviction and warmth. What began as a professional assignment has evolved into a deeply personal mission spanning nearly a decade.

Building without naturalized players

One of the most significant challenges Flemming has faced in developing Indian basketball is dealing with the strict citizenship regulations that prevent talented Indian-origin players from representing the national team.”About every week, I’d get contacted by Indian-origin players from the US and Canada… these were Division One players, solid Division Two players,” Scott reveals. “My first question was always, ‘Do you have an Indian passport?’ And when they said no… I knew we were done talking.”

This restriction creates a unique challenge for India, especially when competing against nations that utilize naturalized players. In recent competitions, India faced Qatar, which featured two American players who had gained citizenship. “Qatar had some really strong pieces, including Americans who’ve been playing pro ball for years,” Flemming notes. “In their country, they’re allowed to have naturalized players. We don’t.”

Rather than seeing this as a disadvantage, Flemming has accepted the situation. “Once I found that out, there’s not much you can do about it. So, you just take what you have,” he explains. “I wish it was consistent. I wish either everybody was allowed to do it or nobody. But it’s not that way. FIBA allows each country to decide for themselves. You can’t worry about that kind of stuff. You just got to take the guys you have and get as good as you can.”

The Turban controversy

The 2014 FIBA Asia Cup became a pivotal moment in Flemming’s tenure, marked by controversy over Sikh players wearing turbans. “India had been doing it for 70 years, and nobody ever enforced this FIBA rule,” Flemming recounts. The situation began unfolding at the coaches’ meeting, where his assistant Prasad was initially told everything was fine. However, the situation escalated dramatically just before their opening game.

“The referee and technical director came up and said they can’t wear the turbans. Now we’re five minutes from the game,” Flemming remembers. Despite his earlier discussions with tournament officials and temporary clearance, the decision was reversed at the last moment.

“I went to the players and said, ‘Listen, they’re saying you got to take these turbans off, but I understand if you don’t want to play. This is a very deep conviction, family, religion.'”

The players’ response moved him deeply: “They said, ‘Coach, for you and our country, we’ll take them off.'” The game started without his best two players, who had to return to the locker room. By the time they returned, it was almost half-time, and India were down by 15 points.

The controversy sparked international attention, with the “Let the Sikhs Play” movement gaining momentum across social media, particularly in the United States. The team’s resilience in the face of this challenge led to one of Flemming’s proudest moments – their subsequent game against China, then ranked 12th in the world. “You know, you can go 1 or 2 ways. It can really just destroy your momentum and your team attitude, or it can really make you stronger. So, the latter was the case.”

Comparing his two Indian teams

Comparing his previous national team to the young roster reveals fascinating contrasts. “They’re different. I won’t say one is good or better,” Flemming reflects. “The previous team had some pretty strong pieces with a young Amritpal and young Amjyot, and Vishesh was kind of in his prime. This is just a different team—a better shooting team than we had.” He also acknowledged that one of the key attributes was the team’s collective defense—something we haven’t seen many Indian teams do.

The Window 2 Indian squad reflects Flemming’s long-term vision, featuring eight players under 25. However, the current squad might not feature most of them. Instead, it includes key players from that game who made it possible, such as Arjuna Awardee Vishesh Bhriguvanshi, coach-turned-player Joginder Singh, and former captain Amritpal Singh, with RL Prasad Guntupalli and Sambhaji Kadam on the sidelines.

Most of the young faces developed under his tutelage, and he shaped their game. Scott found it easy to integrate them into the system. “I think whoever’s coaching them in 3 or 4 years should see the peak,” he predicts. “When that group with Sahaij Singh Sekhon, Harsh Dagar, and Princepal Singh, even Aman—when he comes back…that should be a really nice group when they’re in their mid to late twenties.”

Even the players who weren’t part of the NBA Academy, like Sahaij and Kunwar Gurbaz Singh Sandhu, were plugged effortlessly into the team’s style. “You can do a lot in about four months with a player.”

Also Read: Sahaij Sekhon: India’s new point guard making waves in short career

Unlike coach Vaselin Matic who was worried about Indian players not returning back to play for India, Flemming feels otherwise. “You gotta [have] be patient with those that go to college because not only are they getting a free education, they’re playing against the great competition. So, any of those people, as much as you’d like to have them here, they’re going to be better players when they come back,” he shares when he discusses about prospects like Amaan Sandhu.

His approach to team building combines both statistical analysis and intuitive scouting. Drawing from his college coaching experience, Flemming explains his three-tiered scouting system: “First, I’d list anyone I saw with potential—maybe 200-300 players. Then a second list of 25-30 players where we had some advantage, whether their parents were alums, or they were good students. Finally, a focused list of 12-15 players we were seriously pursuing.”

Women’s basketball and future Stars

Flemming’s vision extends beyond the men’s game. He’s particularly excited about the future of Indian women’s basketball, especially with several Division I players currently developing in the U.S. collegiate system. He speaks enthusiastically about Harsimran Kaur, whom he first spotted at a clinic in Punjab.

“The first time I ever saw her, she stood out because she was six-foot-one or two and aggressive,” he recalls. “She was kind of raw at that time, but you could see the potential.” Now playing at Rhode Island, Harsimran has been putting up impressive numbers, including several 20-point games and double-doubles.

“She’s going to play pro ball somewhere,” Flemming predicts. “When she comes back, you’re going to have a really nice national team.” There’s a higher chance that India might produce a WNBA star before an NBA star.

Cultural adaptation and personal journey

Despite his deep connection to Indian basketball, Flemming remains proudly connected to his Ohio roots, still supporting the Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Guardians and Cleveland Cavaliers. “I kind of cheer for Dallas because I worked for them, but I’m still an Ohio guy.”

His celebration after India’s victory over Kazakhstan went viral, showing a different side of the usually composed coach. “I decided to do my victory dance,” he chuckles. “Somehow the camera crew got in there and filmed it. The next thing I know, it’s going viral. It wasn’t very skilled, but it was fun, but I’ll need to find another move.”

India coach Scott Flemming is all of us now… 😅🕺Context: India beat Kazakhstan for their first win in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers! 🔥🎥 @asiacup/IG#Basketball pic.twitter.com/m3gG5aKsue

— Khel Now (@KhelNow) November 25, 2024

Flemming’s journey to India wasn’t just a professional move but a family decision. Unlike many foreign coaches who come alone, Scott and his wife made the unconventional choice to move together. “I tell people she’s my hero,” he reflects on the challenges of adapting to a new culture. “You can’t compare it to home,” he adds. “I chose to come here, so I must adapt.”

His philosophy of development extends beyond the court. “You should do what you do best and go where it’s needed most, I have no regrets about coming to India and I guess I’m stubborn enough and maybe adaptable,” he shares, explaining his decision to work in India. He sees the bigger picture than how he feels every day. “There’s a lot of coaches that may not come here… it’s such a different culture. But we felt like this was where we were needed.”

Looking ahead, Flemming sees tremendous potential in Indian basketball. With the emergence of professional leagues, continued development of young talent, and growing international exposure, he believes the foundation is being laid for future success. “We’re far from where we need to be,” he acknowledges, “but the building blocks are there.”

This philosophy has helped him bridge cultural divides and create meaningful connections. “I’m still an American, proud of my country. And it’s where I grew up and probably where I’ll die. But I can’t imagine my life without India.”

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As Indian basketball continues its journey of transformation under Flemming’s guidance, his commitment to development, adaptation, and long-term vision offers hope for the sport’s future in the country. His story is not just about coaching basketball; it’s about understanding, respecting, and nurturing the unique character of Indian basketball while helping it reach new heights.

“The high point of my coaching career in India was in the hotel lobby after that win. I was so glad to see our players walk around with their heads held high and feel like they belong. Everybody was coming up to them saying, ‘Man, you guys were going to beat China.’

The dream of being giant killers and watching India defeat the best teams is something Scott and the entire Indian basketball community hope to relive. Who knows? We might even get a new hook step from the coach.

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