The New Zealand Breakers, one of the most successful franchises of the NBL, signed 20-year-old Princepal Singh with the final vacant spot on their roster as a development player.
The @NZBreakers have signed former NBA G-League Ignite player Princepal Singh as a Development Player for #NBL22
— The NBL (@NBL) November 10, 2021
Princepal is no stranger to Australian shores having come through our NextGen camp as well as playing in @NBL1 with the BA Centre of Excellence squad. pic.twitter.com/9mP3oAQBaA
Singh is familiar with Australia, having spent nearly two years with the NBA Global Academy at the BA Centre of Excellence in Canberra. Since he played in the NBL1, the NBA Academy India alum is yet to make his NBL debut.
When he does, he will become the second Indian ever to log minutes in the NBL, the first being 6-foot-10 center Amritpal Singh.
MORE: Fast facts on Princepal Singh's new team
Amritpal Singh
Amritpal turned heads and impressed multiple teams at the 2017 NBL Draft Combine, nearly six years after he went undrafted at the 2011 NBA Draft.
He was present at that combine alongside fellow Indian Basketball stars Amjyot Singh, Yadwinder Singh and Vishesh Bhriguvanshi. Following the combine, he was invited by the Sydney Kings for an invitational tournament in China, known as the Atlas Challenge 2017. Later, in August 2017, he was signed by the Kings for the 2017-18 season.
He played in 24 games, recording averages of 2.1 points and 1.4 rebounds per game. As part of his campaign with the team, Amritpal competed, albeit in limited minutes, in an exhibition contest against the NBA franchise Utah Jazz.
Towards the end of that blowout 108-84 win for the Jazz, Amritpal shared the court with future multiple-time All-Star and then-rookie Donovan Mitchell.
In nine minutes at the Vivint Arena, the home court of the Jazz, the 30-year-old pulled down a couple of rebounds with one on either end of the court.
Vishesh Bhriguvanshi
The 2017-18 NBL season could have been historic, as it could have featured two Indians in the league.
Prior to Amritpal signing his deal, Vishesh Bhriguvanshi - currently the captain of the Indian senior national basketball team - was the first Indian player ever to be signed by an NBL franchise.
Bhriguvanshi had signed a 2017-18 training camp deal with the Adelaide 36ers. However, he didn't end up playing a single game as he was ruled out due to injury.
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