Princepal Singh

Princepal Singh

Singh in 2020.
Personal information
Born	(2001-01-03) 3 January 2001 Punjab, India
Listed height
Listed weight
Career information
NBA draft	2021 / Undrafted
Playing career	2019–present
Position	Power forward / center
Career highlights and awards
SABA Under-16 Championship MVP (2017)
Stats at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Medals Men's basketball Representing India SABA Under-16 Championship 2017 Nepal Team

Princepal Singh Bajwa (; born 3 January 2001) is an Indian professional basketball player. Listed at 6 feet 9 inches (2.06 m) and 221 pounds (100 kg), he plays the power forward and center position. Singh previously played for the NBA G League Ignite.

Early life and career

Singh is a native of Dera Baba Nanak, Punjab, India, and grew up playing volleyball. In 2014, he travelled to Ludhiana to try out for a volleyball academy but instead drew the attention of Jaipal Singh, a coach at the Ludhiana Basketball Academy (LBA).<ref name="sen">Sen, Debayan (5 December 2018). "Meet Princepal, Indian basketball's 'next big Singh'". ESPN. Retrieved 19 June 2020.</ref><ref>"Hope to make it to the NBA one day: India's Princepal Singh". Outlook. Indo-Asian News Service. 24 December 2019. Retrieved 19 June 2020.</ref> Standing 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) at the time, he soon joined the LBA and learned how to play basketball from Jaipal Singh.<ref name="raj">Raj, Pratyush (30 October 2019). "Gurdaspur hoopster is the new 'Prince' of Indian basketball". The Times of India. Retrieved 19 June 2020.</ref> In 2016, Singh earned a three-year full scholarship, worth $75,000, to play at SPIRE Institute and Academy in Geneva, Ohio but was unable to join the program after his visa was rejected twice.<ref name="senthil">Senthil, Anjana (5 December 2018). "Princepal's tryst with destiny". The Hindu. Retrieved 19 June 2020.</ref>

Singh trained at the NBA Academy India in New Delhi for 18 months, before being called up to the NBA Global Academy, a training center at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, in May 2017.<ref name="matange2">Matange, Yash (8 May 2020). "'The NBA Academy experience has been great for me' - Princepal Singh says while discussing the three-year journey and more". National Basketball Association. Retrieved 20 June 2020.</ref> Singh trained at the Global Academy on a two-year contract.<ref name="menon">Menon, Anirudh (17 January 2020). "'I will play in the NBA' - Princepal Singh has eyes firmly set on the big prize". ESPN. Retrieved 19 June 2020.</ref> He played seven games for the BA Centre of Excellence in the Australian NBL1 during the 2019 season.<ref name=asia-basket>"Princepal Singh". asia-basket.com. Retrieved 4 April 2025.</ref>

In October 2019, Singh was named the most valuable player (MVP) at the Indian Junior National Championship after leading Punjab to the title and scoring 40 points against Rajasthan in the final.<ref name=raj/> In December 2019, he helped Punjab win the Indian Senior National Basketball Championship.<ref>70th National Basketball Championship: Punjab men and Railways women repeat as champions Gopalakrishnan R (Sportskeeda), 1 April 2020. Accessed 13 August 2021.</ref> In January 2020, he helped Punjab win the gold medal in the under-21 category of the Khelo India Youth Games.<ref>Matange, Yash (22 January 2020). "Khelo India Youth Games 2020: Princepal Singh leads Punjab to gold in U-21 category as Kerala grabs most basketball medals". National Basketball Association. Retrieved 20 June 2020.</ref><ref>J, Raunak (31 July 2020). ""Didn't expect it to happen so quickly," says India's Princepal Singh after signing NBA G League contract [Exclusive]". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 23 December 2020.</ref>

Professional career

NBA G League Ignite (2021)

On 28 July 2020, Singh signed a one-year contract with the NBA G League Ignite, a developmental team affiliated with the NBA G League. He became the first NBA Academy India graduate to sign a professional contract.<ref>"Princepal Singh Becomes First NBA Academy Graduate To Sign With NBA G League". NBA G League. 28 July 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.</ref> He played sparingly during the 2021 G League hub season, averaging 2.3 points in four games.<ref>Isaga, JR (8 March 2021). "Tried and tested: Assessing the NBA G League Ignite prospects". Rappler. Retrieved 24 April 2021.</ref>

Singh joined the Sacramento Kings for the 2021 NBA Summer League,<ref>"Kings Announce California Classic Summer League Roster | Sacramento Kings". www.nba.com. 1 August 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2025.</ref> helping the team win the Summer League title.<ref name=lowest-moment>"I'm at my lowest moment now, says Princepal Singh". The Times of India. 7 March 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 20 June 2023.</ref> He was selected by the Stockton Kings with the fifth pick of the third round of the 2021 NBA G League draft.<ref>"Princepal Singh Selected by the Stockton Kings in 2021 NBA G League Draft". News18. 29 October 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021.</ref>

New Zealand Breakers (2021–2022)

On 10 November 2021, Singh signed with the New Zealand Breakers of the Australian National Basketball League to a two-year development player contract.<ref>"India's Top Prospect Signs with the Sky Sport Breakers". nzbreakers.basketball. 10 November 2021. Retrieved 10 November 2021.</ref> He parted ways with the Breakers in January 2022 before playing in a game for the team.<ref>MacDonald, Jackson (11 January 2022). "Singh just the latest departure for luckless Breakers". The Inner Sanctum. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 20 June 2022.</ref>

Mumbai Stars (2023)

In October 2022, Singh suffered a career-threatening back injury while training in the United States.<ref name="lowest-moment" /> He recovered in time to play for the Mumbai Stars in the Elite Pro Basketball League in March 2023.<ref name="lowest-moment" />

Punjab Warriors (2025)

Singh played for the Punjab Warriors in the 2025 INBL Pro season. In seven games, he averaged 5.3 points and 4.3 rebounds per game.<ref name="asia-basket" />

In March 2025, Singh signed with the Indian Panthers of the New Zealand NBL for the 2025 season.<ref>"6'10" Prince bolsters our front court, with experience at the NBA Academy, NBA G League & the Breakers". instagram.com/indianpanthersofficial. 27 March 2025. Retrieved 4 April 2025.</ref> He never debuted, with the Panthers folding mid-season.<ref>Frank, Casey (22 May 2025). "Indian Panthers Withdraw From National Basketball League". NZNBL. Retrieved 22 May 2025.</ref>

IHC Apes (2025)

In October 2025, Singh played six games for IHC Apes of the Mongolian League.<ref name="asia-basket" />

National team career

Junior national team

In September 2017, Singh led India to the gold medal at the SABA Under-16 Championship in Kathmandu, Nepal. He was named the tournament's MVP after scoring 20 points in a 131–50 win over Bhutan in his final game.<ref>"India crowned 2nd SABA U16 Zone champions". Ekalavyas. 9 September 2017. Retrieved 19 June 2020.</ref> In April 2018, Singh competed at the FIBA Under-16 Asian Championship in Foshan, China, averaging 22.7 points and 13 rebounds per game.<ref name=fiba>"Princepal primed to be the Next Big Singh for India Basketball". FIBA. 31 July 2018. Retrieved 19 June 2020.</ref> At the 2018 FIBA Under-18 Asian Championship in Nonthaburi, Thailand, he averaged 15.5 points, 9.8 rebounds and 3.3 blocks per game as the captain of the Indian team.<ref name="flojo">Flojo, Enzo (8 November 2018). "Which other youth standouts can play at the senior level now?". FIBA. Retrieved 19 June 2020.</ref>

Senior national team

In December 2018, Singh made his debut for the Indian senior national team at the Super Kung Sheung Cup International Championship in Hong Kong.<ref name=sen/> In February 2020, he was selected to represent India for Window 1 of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualification stage.<ref name="matange">Matange, Yash (17 February 2020). "FIBA Asia Cup 2021 Qualifiers: Princepal Singh and Amaan Sandhu part of India squad for Window 1". National Basketball Association. Retrieved 19 June 2020.</ref> In his first game, on 21 February, Singh recorded three points, five rebounds and two assists in 12 minutes in a 68–67 loss to Bahrain.<ref>"Princepal Singh". FIBA. Retrieved 19 June 2020.</ref>

Career statistics

NBA G League

Regular season

Template:NBA player statistics start |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2020–21 | style="text-align:left;"| NBA G League | 4 || 0 || 6.3 || .500 || 1.000 || .500 || 1.0 || .0 || .3 || .0 || 2.3 |- class="sortbottom" | style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career | 4 || 0 || 6.3 || .500 || 1.000 || .500 || 1.0 || .0 || .3 || .0 || 2.3 |}

Playoffs

Template:NBA player statistics start |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2020–21 | style="text-align:left;"| NBA G League | 1 || 0 || 2.0 || – || – || – || .0 || .0 || .0 || .0 || .0 |- class="sortbottom" | style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career | 1 || 0 || 2.0 || – || – || – || .0 || .0 || .0 || .0 || .0 |}

Personal life

Singh's father, Gurmej Singh, is an electrician.<ref name="sampat">Sampat, Amit (1 June 2016). "The Story Of Prince Lal Singh, An Electrician's Son Who Realized His US Basketball Dream". India Times. Retrieved 19 June 2020.</ref> His father stands 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) and his mother, Hardeep Kaur, stands 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in).<ref name="mahendra">Mahendra, Vikram (1 June 2016). "Punjab teenager Prince Pal Singh earns $75,000 scholarship to train in USA, could play in NCAA by 2020". Sportskeeda. Retrieved 19 June 2020.</ref>

External links

• NBA G League profile
• FIBA profile
• Basketball Reference page
• Asia Basket reference page
• RealGM page