Mumbai: India is on the verge of getting yet another basketball hero from the northern state of Punjab. The likes of Indian origin hoopster Sim Bhullar, and Ludhiana’s very own Satnam Singh have already their mark in the NBA D-League.
India’s basketball scene has further grown in the last couple of years, with the team doing well in the FIBA Asia Challenge (where they recently beat top teams like China and the Philippines), and the FIBA Asia Cup (where they finished eighth). To add to that, talented players like Amritpal Singh and Amjyot Singh have made it to the professional leagues in Japan, improving the quality in the national side.
Now, yet another Punjabi youngster, Palpreet Singh, has been given a contract in the NBA D-League, after being discovered by NBA winner Brian Shaw.
A D-League contract allows Palpreet to enter the drafts of the NBA D-League, where he may be picked up by one of the big clubs in USA.
“This opportunity only comes to a few people, I don’t want to lose it. This is a special chance and challenge for me, I want to make the most of it,” Palpreet said to NBA India.
The 6ft 9in power forward had made his mark by winning the inaugural edition of the ACG-NBA Jump Programme, a talent search event, organised by the NBA in India.
The 22-year-old has been training in USA since July, and has even participated in the NBA D-League National Tryouts in New York City, last month.
Now, Palpreet is training at the New York Athletic Club, ahead of the NBA D-League Draft.
“I’m concentrating on improving my footwork. How to move faster. That’s an area of emphasis for me,” said Palpreet.
