National Basketball Association

NBA, Department of State announce trip to India

Published Feb. 16, 2011 1:40 p.m. ET

foxsports

The U.S. Department of State and the NBA will make their first joint trip to India as part of their 2011 sports envoy program.

Hall of Famer George Gervin and two-time WNBA champion Katie Smith will visit Mumbai and New Delhi from Feb. 22 to March 2, the league announced Wednesday.

They will conduct clinics, meet with students and attend the finals of the Mahindra NBA Challenge, a basketball league run by the NBA and India's basketball federation.

NBA officials, having seen the popularity of basketball soar in China, are excited about the potential for growth in India.

More than 40 NBA and WNBA players have visited 19 different countries through the Department of State's SportsUnited program since 2004.