India’s Top 10 Basketball Legends and Their Glorious Achievements

India, which has a population of over 1.2 billion, most of whom are young, has a great potential to become the global leader in sports. It holds true in basketball as well. Basketball is still underappreciated in India, despite significant advancements in other sports. Even with limited resources, jewels have been found in the last ten years. The top ten male and female basketball players in India over the years are listed here. 

• Sat Prakash Yadav

Among the more well-known Indian basketball players is Sat Prakash Yadav. He was a guard for the Indian basketball team in the past and served as its captain. From 2015 to 2017, he also served as the Indian basketball team’s head coach. After 27 years of coaching, the team qualified for and finished in 7th place at the Men’s FIBA Asia Challenge Cup 2016.

In addition, he served as head coach of the Indian women’s basketball team, which placed sixth overall in the 16th Asian Games in 2010. For the first time ever, the Indian Women’s Basketball Team qualified for Level-I after winning every game in the 22nd FIBA Asia Basketball Championship in 2007.

• Akilan Pari

Akilan Pari, who is at 5 feet 10 inches tall, is one of the few exceptional basketball players from India who has been able to demonstrate that in the game, heart matters more than height. While playing point guard in 2018, Akilan led the Indian basketball team as captain. Additionally, he has captained the official lineups for Tamil Nadu State at the U-13, U-16, U-18, and senior levels. When Pari was chosen for the NBA All-Star Weekend’s Sprite Uncontainable Game in 2013, it was his fanboy dream come true. He was actually coached in the game by NBA stars like Serge Ibaka and LeBron James. The Tamilian put this experience to good use by working even harder in his training to become one of the nation’s top passers and ball handlers. He is one of India’s most well-known basketball players.

Also Read: 10 Fascinating NBA Facts You Probably Didn’t Know

• Vishesh Bhriguvanshi

One of India’s most gifted basketball players is Vishesh Bhriguvanshi. Bhriguvanshi averaged 30.8 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game while participating in 11 games for the Bengaluru Beast in the UBA. In one of the games, he actually scored 57 points and disheveled 11 assists against rival Hyderabad. He is one of India’s most well-known basketball players. He leads the Indian basketball team as captain.

He is the first Indian athlete to secure a contract with the Adelaide 36ers of the National Basketball League (Australia). Bhriguvanshi signed a one-year training deal with the 36ers on July 7, 2017, despite the fact that he did not play in any games for the team during the 2017–18 NBL season.

• Prashanti Singh

One of the most well-known figures in Indian women’s basketball is Prashanti Singh. 2019 saw the 35-year-old Varanasi-born shooting guard make history. She was the first basketball player in India to receive the civilian Padma Shree award from Honourable President Ram Nath Kovind. The most decorated basketball player in India is Prashant. In India, she has won 23 medals in Federation Cups, National Games, and National Championships. Even the record for most medals won at a national championship belongs to Singh. She is also a member of the Asian Academy of Film & Television International Women’s Film Forum.

• Geethu Anna Jose

The Indian women’s basketball team’s former captain is Geethu Anna Jose. Prior to joining the Southern Railway Basketball Team, she was a member of the Kerala Junior Volleyball Team. From 2006 until 2008, she was the first Indian women professional basketball player to play for the Ringwood Hawks, an Australian team. In April 2011, she received invitations to trial for WNBA teams, including Chicago Sky, Los Angeles Sparks, and San Antonio Silver Stars.  Thanks to her 2008 Most Valuable Player-worthy performance, she was selected for Team Dandenong in Australia’s top professional competition, the Women’s NBL. But for private reasons, she was unable to accept the offer.

Also Read: The Physical and Mental Health Benefits of Playing Basketball

• Anitha Pauldurai

The most reliable Indian basketball player is Anitha Pauldurai. 2018 saw her most recently retired. Anitha is a unique Indian female athlete who has participated in eight Asian Basketball Confederation (ABC) championships in a row. She finished the 2013 FIBA Asia Women’s Championship among the top 10 players. She took home the Gold Medal in the first 3 on 3 FIBA Asia Basketball Championship Doha in May of 2013. In important all-India competitions held in Mumbai, Delhi, Punjab, Coimbatore, Karur, Chennai, Ramu Memorial Trophy, and Savio Cup, she has won the Most Valuable Player accolades.

• Ajmer Singh

The first renowned basketball player from India was Ajmer Singh. On December 12, 1953, he was born in the Haryana village of Rukanpur. Singh played volleyball before he enlisted in the Haryana Police following his education. Nevertheless, the 6’5″ tall athlete discovered his enthusiasm for basketball after giving it a shot. He made the crucial choice to give up volleyball and focus all of his attention on his new sport. Ajmer Singh also made the bold choice to go to Kota, which had a rich basketball history.

Ajmer Singh made an impressive impression at the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games after being selected for the national team. He received the 1982 Arjuna Award. He is the only Indian to be one of the top 10 shooters at the 1980 Moscow Olympics. Ajmer’s performance is among the most exceptional Indian accomplishments in the history of the Olympics, despite the fact that India placed 12th (out of 12 countries) in the competition. He was one of India’s most well-known basketball players.

• Amritpal Singh

The first-ever male Indian basketball player to compete in the National Basketball League (NBL) of Australia is Amritpal Singh. After making an impression during workouts, training camps, and the preseason tour, he signed with the Sydney Kings and is a reliable backup centre for the squad in the NBL. Amritpal participated in a number of important competitions, such as the FIBA Asia Cup, the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers, and the South Asian Basketball Championship. In the course of helping team India to the tournament victory, he was named the South Asian Championship MVP.

Also Read: 5 NBA Legends Who Missed Out on Rookie of the Year

• Amjyot Singh

Amjyot is the second Indian player to play for the Oklahoma City Blue in the NBA’s G-League. The 6-foot-11 forward is a constant performer in the league, working hard to fulfill his dream of playing in the NBA someday. During the FIBA Asia Cup, he led the Indian basketball team as captain. Amjyot performed admirably for his country, topping the squad in assists (4.3) and points (13.1) at the end of the competition. Currently, the 27-year-old competes in the NBA G-league with Wisconsin Herd. He was embroiled in a dispute last year that resulted in a year-long banishment due to disciplinary actions.

• Satnam Singh

In India, Satnam Singh is without a doubt the most well-known basketball player. Satnam was the first player to be drafted into the NBA (American Basketball League) who was born in India in 2015. The Mavericks selected him with the 52nd overall choice in the second round, however he was eventually waived. Then he spent a few years playing in the G-league. He was a player for the Canadian NBL’s St. John’s Edge. The Indian Big Man has always been held to very high standards, yet he has never met any of them. In the NBA G-League 2015–16, he averaged 1.5 points and 1.5 rebounds per game. Even yet, he only played eight games in the 2016–17 campaign, averaging 1.6 points and 1.3 rebounds.