Could India Finally Have Its Own Professional Basketball League?

Mumbai, June 6 (NationPress) – India is set to launch its inaugural professional basketball league, heralding a pivotal shift in the country's sports landscape and realizing the long-held aspiration of the Basketball Federation of India (BFI).

This innovative league will feature structured competitive formats in 5x5 and 3x3 for both men and women, and was officially unveiled in Mumbai on Friday, with the operation being managed jointly by BFI and ACG Sports Private Limited.

The groundbreaking initiative is poised to create a holistic professional ecosystem, empowering athletes nationwide to view basketball as a legitimate career option, as stated by the organizers during the announcement.

“This league is designed to revolutionize the way basketball is played, experienced, and supported in India. Our aim is to elevate basketball from a niche sport to a mainstream activity, positioning India as a competitive player on the global basketball stage, supported by top-tier infrastructure, comprehensive athlete development, and strong community involvement,” the organizers remarked in a press release.

ACG Sports Pvt. Ltd., a part of ACG, a global leader in integrated manufacturing solutions for the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical sectors, is spearheading this initiative as a natural extension of its ten-year commitment to grassroots basketball.

To shape the league’s global strategy and operations, Jeremy Loeliger, former CEO & Commissioner of Australia’s National Basketball League (NBL), has been appointed as the Director of ACG Sports. In this capacity, he will develop the league’s framework, ensuring international standards of governance, competition, and commercial innovation are brought to India.

“Basketball is more than just a game; it is a means to cultivate character, leadership, and opportunities,” stated Karan Singh, Managing Director of ACG. “Our decade-long journey, starting from grassroots initiatives, has focused on systematically making basketball accessible across India and building professional pathways for young athletes to succeed.”

In tandem with this initiative, ACG plans to establish India’s first fully residential high-performance center within the next year. This academy will boast world-class facilities, attract premier coaching talent from the U.S. and Australia, and offer comprehensive training programs for players, coaches, and referees. The curriculum will integrate aspects of nutrition, mental wellness, and academic balance, ensuring the holistic development of future stars, as per the release.

Aadhav Arjuna, President of the Basketball Federation of India, noted: “This collaboration with ACG is unprecedented. It is vision-driven, structured for enduring impact, and deeply aligned with the genuine needs of Indian basketball. We aim to build not only visibility but also real momentum and global credibility.”

The league’s complete framework, including team structures, competition formats, player eligibility, and governance models, is currently under development with insights from global basketball experts and key industry stakeholders. Detailed announcements regarding participation guidelines, venue requirements, and operational protocols will be made in phases.

In the upcoming months, the newly established League Council will begin overseeing standards and operations, while nationwide scouting initiatives, tailored athlete development paths, and engaging fan programs will help lay the groundwork for a vibrant, inclusive, and commercially sustainable basketball culture in India.