At the age of 20 and standing at 6-foot-9, Princepal Singh Bajwa from Firozpur is capturing attention at a crucial moment. This basketball player achieved a historic milestone as the first Indian to secure an NBA title when his team, the Sacramento Kings, triumphed over the Boston Celtics with a resounding 100-67 victory in the Summer League in Las Vegas on Tuesday.
Marking the Kings’ first taste of success since 2014, the Punjabi player contributed to the final for precisely 4 minutes and 8 seconds in the 48-minute game. In doing so, he etched his name in NBA history as the first Indian to be part of a championship roster at any level of the NBA. Another player from Punjab, Satnam Singh Bhamra, was the first Indian to play in the NBA for the Dallas Mavericks in 2015.
Originally a volleyball player turned basketball sensation, Prince, an NBA Academy India alumni, concluded the game with two points. Notably, he scored the Kings’ final basket, securing their 100th point, and also grabbed a rebound. Prince made his Summer League debut on August 12, checking into the final 1 minute and 22 seconds of a Kings’ victory over the Washington Wizards.
As a 2017 NBA Academy Global alumni and the first member of NBA Academy India, Prince added another milestone by signing a professional contract for the NBA G-League Ignite. Back in India, he played a pivotal role in helping Punjab secure victory at the Khelo India Youth Games last year. In 2017, he clinched a gold medal for India in the South Asian Basketball Association U-16, competing against teams from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Maldives, and Bhutan.
Earlier this year, Prince represented the senior India team in the Asia Cup. His journey from the NBA Academy to becoming a champion in the Summer League showcases his remarkable achievements on the basketball court.