Basketball is one of the most popular sports in India. It is played in almost all high schools, colleges, and universities. Also, the game and players get patronage from government institutions that have made basketball teams and host competitions.
Championships are organized for senior, junior, and youth levels for men and women. Basketball teams of various organizations compete in all-India tournaments like Kiloi Invitational Tournament, Master Prithvinath Memorial, Ramu Memorial, and Don Bosco Invitational Tournament.
Players from these tournaments are selected for The India men’s national basketball team that represents the country in international tournaments including South Asian Games.
Here’re the basketball players that have made history
1. Satnam Singh Bhamara
Flashback to when Satnam Singh (@hellosatnam) played in NBL Canada! In 2018, he became the first ever Indian-born player to play in a Canadian pro basketball league.
— National Basketball League of Canada (@NBLCanada) January 9, 2022
We are proud to have been a part of Singh’s historic career 🙏.
(Open thread to watch his season highlights) pic.twitter.com/TxoOdU9YMf
Born: 10 December 1995, Baloke, Punjab
Position: Point guard
Height: 2.18 m (7 ft 2 inch)
Weight: 360 lbs (163 kg)
Satnam Singh made India proud by becoming the first Indian-born basketball player to be drafted into National Basketball Association in 2015. He learned basketball at Ludhiana Basketball Academy and went on to make it big on the world stage. At the beginning of his career, he led the Punjab State youth team and now he plays for NBA.
2. Amjyot Singh
Post game rituals #Punjab #NationalGames #NationalGames2022 #IndiaBasketball #WaheguruMaherKare🙏 pic.twitter.com/nrqTqoDgLO
— Amjyot Singh Gill (@gill_amjyot) October 2, 2022
Born: 27 January 1992, Chandigarh
Position: Power forward/Small forward
Height: 2.13 m (7 ft 0 inch)
Weight: 229 lbs (104 kg)
Amjyot Singh is the second Indian basketball player to enter the prestigious NBA-G league with his sharpshooting skills. The world saw his shooting skills at the 2011 FIBA Asia Championship in Wuhan, China where he recorded 2 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 blocks while playing against Lebanon. In 2013, the Indian National Basketball team earned a bid for the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship with his fantastic 13 points score over Afghanistan.
3. Amritpal Singh
Humbled to be called a ‘rising star’. Thank you @dailytelegraph for your kind words.
— Amritpal Singh (@amritpalog) December 27, 2017
Let’s turn it around @SydneyKings!https://t.co/l5nGWYysIE#KingsRevolution #IndiaBasketball
Born: January 5, 1991, Ganna Pind, Punjab
Position: Center
Height: 2.16 m (7 ft 1 inch)
Weight: 243 lbs (110 kg)
First Indian to be selected by Australian National Basketball League (NBL), Amritpal Singh is also a renowned basketball player in the country and the world. He first appeared on the national scene in 2011 when he was selected for the FIBA Asia Championship squad. He played many championships and averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds per game.
4. Akilan Pari
21st super Kung sheung cup- Hong Kong 2016! pic.twitter.com/ilSCGIYzhC
— Akilan Pari (@akil006) April 15, 2017
Born: 20 July 1989, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Position: Center
Height: 1.78 m (5 ft 10 inch)
Weight: 154 lbs (70 kg)
Akilan Pari could look smaller in comparison to others but his contribution to the game is by no means smaller to others. One of the most successful players in India, Akilan led the Indian national team in 2018. Also, he made the country proud by selecting in the Sprite Uncontainable Game of the NBA All-Star Weekend.
5. Yadwinder Singh
Thanks for coming out and meeting us @_kaushik7 at the @NBL Draft Comine. It felt good 🙏 #Represent #IndiaBasketball https://t.co/f1n1VoX2RW
— Yadwinder Singh (@yadujosan14) April 21, 2017
Born: 30 December 1986, Rasulpur Kurdh, Punjab
Position: Power forward
Height: 1.98 m (6 ft 6 inch)
Weight: 209 lbs (95 kg)
Yadwinder Singh is one of the few players who are passionate about sports. His passion for basketball drove him to the Ludhiana Basketball Academy in 2002 and luckily he got selected due to his passion and potential. The coaches noticed his talent and provided him with an opportunity to play for the country at the 2016 FIBA Asia Challenge in Tehran, Iran.
6. Princepal Singh Bajwa
Indian basketball player Princepal Singh has won the 2021 NBA Summer League with the #SacramentoKings.
— The Bridge (@the_bridge_in) August 18, 2021
The NBA Academy India alumni has made history by becoming the first player from the country to be part of a championship roster at any level of the #NBA.#Basketball 🏀 pic.twitter.com/EyMTC63dfe
Born: 3 January 2001, Firozpur, Punjab
Position: Power forward/Center
Height: 2.06 m (6 ft 9 inch)
Weight: 221 lbs (100 kg)
Princepal Singh took training at the NBA Academy India in New Delhi and went on to become the first graduate to sign a contract with a professional development team NBA G League Ignite in 2020. Another proud moment was his selection for the most valuable player (MVP) at the Indian Junior National Championship. He led the Punjab team in the championship and scored the highest 40 points against Rajasthan in the final.
7. Jagdeep Singh Bains
Indian basketball team hopeful of Commonwealth Games win with return of key players – via @NewIndianXpress https://t.co/mu1PAQkQCo pic.twitter.com/ZGu1KdNE47
— Hoopistani (@Hoopistani) April 3, 2018
Born: 10 January 1986, Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan
Position: Center
Height: 1.98 m (6 ft 6 inch)
Weight: 213 lbs (97 kg)
Jagdeep Singh Bains is a professional basketball player having played both the 2007 and 2008 FIBA Asia Championship for the country. Later he earned fame at the UBA Pro Basketball League while playing for Mumbai Challengers. Singh started his professional career with the Indian Junior national team at the age of 19 and went on to become one of the most popular players in the country.
8. Sozhasingarayer Robinson
𝐒𝐨𝐳𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐚 𝐑𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐧 || 𝐀 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭 𝐅𝐢𝐠𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐇𝐨𝐨𝐩𝐬
— #IndiaBasketball (@BFI_basketball) March 10, 2021
The 6-8 forward was pound-for-pound one of the greatest Indians to ever play the game, a player who took the sport into new frontiers for India.#IndiaBasketball #India pic.twitter.com/87UOYzgv2h
Born: 23 June 1980, Pondicherry
Position: Power forward/Center
Height: 2.03 m (6 ft 8 inch)
Weight: 249 lbs (113 kg)
Fondly called S. Robinson, he made India proud during the 2004 FIBA Asia Stanković Cup. He scored the highest 36 points against South Korea which was considered a strong opponent in the tournament. He retired from the professional game in 2006 after playing a fantastic game. But he also faced criticism for speaking about the lack of support for basketball players.
9. Ravi Bhardwaj
@rikinpethani15 looks to put up a hook shot vs @PunePeshwas #UBAIndia pic.twitter.com/Dx06yk7u54
— Chennai Slam (@ChennaiSlam) November 11, 2017
Born: 31 October 1992, Chandigarh
Position: Forward
Height: 2.01 m (6 ft 7 inch)
Weight: N/A
Ravi Bhardwaj has been a prolific player since his school days and this is evident from the tally of his medals that he won in inter-school, inter-university, and inter-college meets. But the proud moment came in 2015 when he was nominated for the Most Valuable Player award in the first season of the UBA Pro League. He plays for Punjab Steelers in the league. He also played for the Indian national team at the 2016 FIBA Asia Challenge in Tehran.
10. Rikin Pethani
FIBA WC Qualifiers ## Team India @ Lebanon ## pic.twitter.com/3SNTwV5dmG
— Rikin Pethani (@rikinpethani15) November 23, 2017
Born: 2 December 1990, Himatnagar, Gujarat
Position: Center
Height: 2.03 m (6 ft 8 inch)
Weight: 224 lbs (102 kg)
Rikin Pethani was a cricket player before discovering his passion for basketball. He has good height and ideal weight that make him suitable to become a basketball player. He displayed his skills during the 2016 FIBA Asia Challenge in Tehran where he was a member of the Indian squad. Presently he plays for Chennai Slam at the UBA Pro Basketball League of India.
Sprite Uncontainable Game of the NBA All-Star Weekend
