Indian basketball player Palpreet Singh feels there is an urgent need for the country to have a league on the lines of Pro Kabaddi and the Indian Super League if the sport wants to make an impact amongst the fans
Palpreet Singh
Indian basketball player Palpreet Singh feels there is an urgent need for the country to have a league on the lines of Pro Kabaddi and the Indian Super League if the sport wants to make an impact amongst the fans.
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Palpreet follows Satnam
Palpreet became the second player after Satnam Singh to make it to the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) Development League.
The 21-year old was drafted by the Long Island Nets, affiliate team of the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets on Sunday.
“There should be a basketball league on the lines of PKL in India. FIBA (International Basketball Federation) too has made it mandatory for Indian players to play in a national league. If there’s such a league then it will raise our skill sets.
“There will be foreign players coming in and we will have a chance to rub shoulders with them as well. A national league is a must,” the 6ft 9in hoopster said yesterday.
After his first training session with Long Island Nets, Palpreet pointed out the huge void in coaching mechanisms between the West and India. “Zameen asman ka faraq hai. We are way behind as far as coaching and training is concerned. Their defensive and offensive strategies are different and fitness is given paramount importance,” he added.
Japan connection
Quizzed on how basketball, a sport that has almost negligible presence in the country, can produce two players to make it to the NBA, Palpreet said: “We are given opportunities to play in the Japan League. Besides my childhood coach Dr S Subramanian (who passed away in May 2013) showered me with a lot of love. He used to give me valuable tips to better my game. He has really played an important role in shaping up my career.”
Now in America, Palpreet has decided to up the ante, but when the country calls, he will always be available to play.
“I have to work on my defense and self defense first over here. The main reason that went United Staes is to better my game. But I have not made up my mind to play only in the NBA.
“If the nation calls, I’ll be in India,” Palpreet said, adding that nobody was his inspiration during his journey to the West. “I just want to be Palpreet,” he guffaws.
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