India, which has a population of over 1.2 billion, the bulk 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. Read on for the list of the best Basketball players in India.
Even with limited resources, gems have been found in the last ten years. The top ten male and female basketball players in India over the years are listed here. Learn about the top basketball players in India.
Basketball players in India:
S.N | Basketball Players in India |
1 | Sat Prakash Yadav |
2 | Akilan Pari |
3 | Vishesh Bhriguvanshi |
4 | Prashanti Singh |
5 | Geethu Anna Jose |
6 | Anitha Pauldurai |
7 | Ajmer Singh |
8 | Amritpal Singh |
9 | Amjyot Singh |
10 | Satnam Singh |
1. Sat Prakash Yadav:
Sat Prakash Yadav is one of the more well-known basketball players from India. In the past, he captained the Indian basketball team while playing guard. He was also the head coach of the Indian basketball team from 2015 to 2017. The team qualified for and placed seventh at the Men’s FIBA Asia Challenge Cup 2016 following 27 years of coaching.
He also led the Indian women’s basketball team, which finished sixth overall in the 16th Asian Games in 2010. The 22nd FIBA Asia Basketball Championship in 2007 saw the Indian Women’s Basketball Team win every game, earning them a spot in Level I for the first time ever.
Born | April 2, 1955 (age 68) Hisar, Haryana |
Position | Guard |
Sat Prakash Yadav Height | 6’2” |
- Participated as an Indian representative in the 1981 Asian Basketball Confederation Championship in Calcutta.
- Participated in the 1982 Delhi Asian Games as a representative of India.
participated in the 1982 International Invitational Basketball Championship, which was held in Seoul, South Korea, on behalf of India. - Participated in the Hong Kong-hosted Asian Basketball Confederation Championship in 1983 on behalf of India.
- Went third for India. In the 1983 Bangkok Crown Prince’s Cup International Invitational Basketball Championship, they took home the silver medal.
- Served as the captain of the Indian team in the Benson and Hedges Cup International Invitational Basketball Tournament, which was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 1984. Captained the Indian team in the Eight Test Matches series against the visiting Athlete in
- Action (USA) Basketball Team in 1983 and won the series.
- In the Merlion Cup International Invitational Basketball Championship 1984 held in Singapore, the captain of the Indian squad.
2. Akilan Pari:
One of the few great basketball players from India who has been able to show that heart matters more than height in the game is Akilan Pari, who is only 5 feet 10 inches tall. In 2018, Akilan captained the Indian basketball team while he was a point guard.
He has also led Tamil Nadu State’s official lineups for the U-13, U-16, U-18, and senior levels. It was Pari’s fanboy dream come true when he was selected for the Sprite Uncontainable Game during NBA All-Star Weekend in 2013. NBA players like LeBron James and Serge Ibaka actually served as his coaches during the game.
In order to become one of the country’s best passers and ball handlers, the Tamilians made the most of this experience by training even harder. Among the most well-known basketball players in India is him.
Born | 20 July 1989 (age 33) Chennai, Tamil Nadu |
Position | Point Guard |
Akilan Pari Height | 5’10” |
3. Vishesh Bhriguvanshi:
Vishesh Bhriguvanshi is among the most talented basketball players in India. Bhriguvanshi played 11 games for the Bengaluru Beast in the UBA, averaging 30.8 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per contest. He really put up 57 points and dishevelled 11 assists against rival Hyderabad in one of the games. Among the most well-known basketball players in India is him. As captain, he guides the Indian basketball team.
He is the first sportsperson from India to sign a deal with the National Basketball League’s Adelaide 36ers (Australia). On July 7, 2017, Bhriguvanshi signed a one-year training contract with the 36ers, even though he did not participate in any of the team’s games during the 2017–18 NBL season.
Born | 13 November 1991 (age 31) Chandauli, Uttar Pradesh |
Position | Shooting guard / Small forward |
Vishesh Bhriguvanshi Height | 6’5” |
4. Prashanti Singh:
Prashanti Singh is one of the most well-known names in Indian women’s basketball. The 35-year-old shooting guard, who was born in Varanasi, made history in 2019. She was the first basketball player in India to be presented by Honourable President Ram Nath Kovind with the civilian Padma Shree award. Prashant is the most decorated basketball player in India.
She has won 23 medals in national championships, national games, and Federation Cups in India. Singh even holds the record for the most medals won at a national championship. She is also a member of the International Women’s Film Forum of the Asian Academy of Film & Television.
Born | 5 May 1984 (age 38) Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India |
Position | Small forward/Shooting guard |
Prashanti Singh Height | 5’8” |
- 2019: Padma Shri by the Government of India
- 2017: Arjuna Award by the Government of India
- December 2016-17: Rani Laxmi Bai Award (Outstanding Sports Person) by Uttar Pradesh Government
- 2015-16 : Poorvanchal Ratna (Top Sports Person)
- 2015: Shakti Samman by APN News
- 2015: UP ke Sartaj titled by Radio Mirchi 98.3 FM.
- 2015: National record with 23 medals for one team at senior level.
- 2013: Lokmat Samman (sportsperson of the year 2013) in Lucknow.
5. Geethu Anna Jose:
Geethu Anna Jose was the former captain of the Indian women’s basketball team. She played volleyball for the Kerala Junior Volleyball Team before joining the Southern Railway Basketball Team. Geethu was the first Indian woman to play professional basketball for the Australian Ringwood Hawks from 2006 to 2008.
She was invited to try out for the Chicago Sky, Los Angeles Sparks, and San Antonio Silver Stars, among other WNBA teams, in April 2011. In Australia’s premier professional league, the Women’s NBL, she was chosen for Team Dandenong due to her 2008 Most Valuable Player-worthy performance. However, she was unable to accept the offer due to personal reasons.
Born | 30 June 1985 (age 37), Changanasserry, Kottayam, India |
Position | Centre |
Geethu Anna Jose Height | 6’2” |
6. Anitha Pauldurai:
Anitha Pauldurai is the most dependable basketball player in India. She declared her retirement in 2018. A remarkable Indian female athlete, Anitha has competed in eight consecutive Asian Basketball Confederation (ABC) championships. She placed among the top 10 players at the 2013 FIBA Asian Women’s Championship.
In May 2013, she won the gold medal in the first-ever 3-3 FIBA Asian Basketball Championship held in Doha. She has won Most Valuable Player awards in major all-India competitions, including the Savio Cup, Ramu Memorial Trophy, Delhi, Punjab, Coimbatore, Karur, and Chennai.
Born | 22 June 1985 (age 37) Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
Position | Shooting Guard |
Anitha Pauldurai Height | 5’7” |
7. Ajmer Singh:
Ajmer Singh was the first well-known basketball player from India. He was born in the village of Rukanpur, Haryana, on December 12, 1953. Singh participated in volleyball before deciding to join the Haryana Police after finishing his studies.
Still, after giving it a try, the 6’5″ tall athlete fell in love with basketball. He took the vital decision to give up volleyball and devote all of his energy to his new activity. Ajmer Singh also took a risk by moving to Kota, which had a storied basketball past.
Ajmer Singh was chosen for the national team and went on to make a big impression at the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games. The 1982 Arjuna Award was given to him. He is the only Indian in the top 10 shooters from the 1980 Moscow Olympics.
Despite India finishing 12th (out of 12 countries) in the competition, Ajmer’s performance is one of the most remarkable Indian successes in Olympic history. Among the most well-known basketball players in India was him.
Born | 1953, Karnal |
Position | Shooting Guard |
Ajmer Singh Height | 6’5” |
8. Amritpal Singh:
Amritpal Singh is the first male Indian basketball player to ever play in Australia’s National Basketball League (NBL). Having impressed during training camps, preseason games, and workouts, he signed with the Sydney Kings and is now a dependable NBL backup centre for the team.
Amritpal took part in several major tournaments, including the South Asian Basketball Championship, the FIBA Asia Cup, and the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers. He won the South Asian Championship MVP award while guiding team India to the tournament championship.
Born | 19 December 1991 (age 32 years), Amritsar |
Position | Center |
Amritpal Singh Height | 6’11” |
9. Amjyot Singh:
Amjyot is the second Indian player to be a member of the NBA G-League’s Oklahoma City Blue. The 6-foot-11 forward puts in a lot of effort to fulfil his goal of one day playing in the NBA and is a reliable performer in the league. He served as captain of the Indian basketball team during the FIBA Asia Cup.
Amjyot played brilliantly for his nation, finishing first in the group in points (13.1) and assists (4.3). The 27-year-old plays for Wisconsin Herd in the NBA G-league at the moment. He was part of a controversy last year that led to disciplinary actions and a year-long banishment.
Born | 27 January 1992 (age 31) Chandigarh, India |
Position | Power forward / Small forward |
Amjyot Singh Height | 6’11” |
10. Satnam Singh:
Without a doubt, the most well-known basketball player in India is Satnam Singh. 2015 saw the selection of Indian-born player Satnam as the first pick in the NBA (American Basketball League). He was later waived by the Mavericks, who had selected him in the second round with the 52nd overall pick.
After that, he played in the G-league for a few years. He was a player for St. John’s Edge of the Canadian NBL. Though he has never met any of them, the Indian Big Man has always been held to very high standards. He averaged 1.5 points and 1.5 rebounds per game in the NBA G-League 2015–16. Even so, he played in just eight games during the 2016–17 season, averaging 1.6 points and 1.3 rebounds.
Born | December 10, 1995 (age 27) Baloke, Punjab, India |
Position | Center |
Satnam Singh Height | 7’2” |
So, this was all about the Basketball players in India. Also read, Top 12 Best Basketball Shoes to boost performance.