Princepal Singh makes Ignite debut, becomes third Indian ever to play in the NBA G League

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Princepal Singh became the third Indian ever, and first since Amjyot Singh in 2019, to play in the NBA G League. 

The 20-year-old, a native of Dera Baba Nanak, Gurdaspur in Punjab, made his debut for the Ignite against the Erie Bayhawks in the fifth game of the team's condensed 15-game 2021 season.

He checked into the game for the final 7:49 minutes, one that the Ignite lost 87-127 to the Erie Bayhawks.

MORE: Time with Ignite helping Princepal's overall maturation

In his debut, Singh pulled down a couple of rebounds and came really close to registering his first points but missed out, when he could neither knock down his only field goal attempt nor his lone free-throw attempt (technical) late. 

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In July of 2020, when Princepal signed with the G League Ignite, he became the first-ever NBA Academy graduate to sign with the G League and first-ever NBA Academy India graduate to sign a professional contract. 

By playing minutes in the G League, Princepal put his name alongside the likes of Satnam Singh, the first and only Indian so far to be selected in the NBA Draft, and Amjyot Singh.

Satnam, across two seasons (2015-17) for the Texas Legends, played in 27 regular season G League games averaging 1.5 points and 1.4 rebounds in 7.1 minutes. 

On the other hand, Amjyot played more minutes in his brief stint in the G League. Across two seasons, he represented two franchises - Oklahoma City Blue and Wisconsin Herd - and played as many as 43 games. 

MORE: Best moments from Amjyot's 2018-19 G League season

The Ignite, made up of young elite prospects, are one of only two teams (along with the Delaware Blue Coats) to start the 2021 G League with an undefeated 4-0 record. 

The Bayhawks ran away with this game early and never looked back. They led by as many as 21 in the first quarter and extended to as many as 36 late in the game.

MORE: All you need to know about the G League Ignite - roster, coaching staff, schedule

They finished with six players in double figures while the Ignite had three in Jonathan Kuminga (21 points, 10 rebounds, three assists), Jalen Green (13 points, four rebounds, four assists, two steals), and Daishen Nix (13 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, two steals).

The young prospects will have the opportunity for a quick bounce-back as they play the Westchester Knicks (Friday, Feb. 19 at 5:30 AM) in the second of their five back-to-backs for the season. 

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