PRINCEPAL SINGH BAJWA

Basketball player

Princepal is the first Indian player in NBA history to be part of a championship team, scoring the winning two points for Sacramento Kings while playing against the Boston Celtics. He is also the first Indian player to make their debut in the NBA Summer Season.

Though he grew up playing volleyball in Punjab, Princepal switched sports after catching the eye of a basketball coach when at a local volleyball tryout. His initial plans were to train in the US, after qualifying for a full 3-year sports scholarship in Ohio. But after having his visa rejected, Princepal enrolled at the NBA Academy in New Delhi – and was later called up to the NBA Global Academy in Australia. Despite this, Princepal has continued to win hearts back on his home turf. He scooped a gold medal for Punjab in the Khelo India Youth Games, and also led the team to victory against Rajasthan in the Junior National Championships. After playing semi-pro in the Australian Basketball League, Princepal is now signed to the New Zealand Breakers – a fully professional league based in Auckland. He also plans to enrol for the NBA draft in the upcoming season.