The future of Indian Basketball looks bright as Princepal Singh becomes the first NBA Academy graduate to sign with NBA G League
Princepal Singh, a 6-10 forward from Punjab, India, has signed to play in the NBA G League next season. He will be training and competing along with the new G League team which features elite youth prospects.
He has become the first NBA Academy graduate to sign with the NBA G League and first NBA Academy India graduate to sign a professional contract. He started playing the sport from the Ludhiana Basketball Academy, joined The NBA Academy India in 2017.
“I am really excited to get this opportunity. I am looking forward to this new beginning of my life,” Princepal told TOI. "At present, I don’t have much details about the contract, I don’t know when I am going to US but the only good thing is I am living my dream and I hope to play in the NBA soon,” he added.
Princepal belongs to Dera Baba Nanak village in Gurdaspur and was obsessed with Volleyball. He was spotted by then MLA from Batala, Lakhbir Singh Lodhinangal in a school competition where the then 6’4” youngster scouted out for the Ludhiana Basketball Academy.
“Back then, I only knew about volleyball and my whole time was spent in setting up the volleyball net. When Lodhinangal sir’s son Kunwar Mandeep Singh told me about basketball, I was fascinated by the game. Controlling the ball all over the court looked enjoyable to me,” Princepal told Indian Express.
Singh playing in the NBA through the draft route in 2021 depends upon the progress he makes in the G League. This contract is set to take the stout-hearted closer to his dreams. He will be coached by five-time NBA champion Brian Shaw.
He shall be focusing on making Singh a better player by channelling his talent into victories for the team. He has to improve his ball-handling and playmaking skills to clench on the success in the league. He is expected to have the skillsets of a mid-sized point guard.
We can't keep calm because he has made it big:
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