22-year-old Palpreet Singh Brar is the latest Indian heading to the NBA to chase his basketball dreams. He has signed a contract with the NBA Development League in the US.
The winner of national finals of ACG-NBA Jump — India’s first national basketball talent search programme — will now become eligible for selection in the NBA D League Draft to be held on October 25, news agency IANS reported.
Satnam Singh Bhamara, another basketball player from Punjab was picked by Dallas Mavericks in last year’s NBA draft. Like Satnam, Palpreet also trained at Ludhiana Basketball Academy.
An imposing 6-foot-9-inch Brar, who trains at the New York Athletic Club with coach Ross Burn in Manhattan, said in a statement “I have trained hard and I am confident of being picked in the draft. I will make the most of this rare opportunity.”
Brar will have to compete against more than 200 other NBA aspirants. “The competition is tough but it is great to know you are competing with the best to play in the world’s best league,” he said. There are more NBA talent hunts planned in India and the other countries.
