In a groundbreaking move for youth basketball in India, the National Basketball Association (NBA), ACG—a global leader in pharmaceutical solutions—and the Basketball Federation of India (BFI) have launched the ACG Jr. NBA program. This nationwide initiative will establish the largest school-based basketball program in India, featuring a nationwide 3v3 tournament for top under-14 players.
The announcement named Skechers, the renowned global performance and lifestyle footwear and apparel brand, as the official kit partner. The brand will provide high-quality gear for all participants in the program.
The ACG Jr. NBA program will include both boys’ and girls’ divisions, with teams from schools across India. The tournament will kick off on Tuesday, September 24, with initial rounds taking place in Chennai and Mumbai, followed by events in Aizawl, Delhi, Kolkata, and Ludhiana.
In each city, the top eight teams from the boys’ and girls’ divisions will compete in a league phase. The top three teams from each division, along with one all-star team per division, will advance to the league finals scheduled for early next year. The organizers will announce specific dates for the remaining city tournaments, league phases, and league finals later.
This initiative aims not only to boost youth basketball development locally but also to enhance elite talent identification and provide new opportunities for players, coaches, and referees at various levels. It builds on the successful ACG-NBA Jump program, a nationwide talent search launched previously. and marks BFI’s inaugural role as an ACG Jr. NBA partner.
The announcement was made at a press conference in Mumbai, attended by BFI President Aadhav Arjuna, NBA Asia Strategy Head and NBA India Country Head Rajah Chaudhry, ACG Chief Marketing Officer Alex Robertson, and Skechers South Asia Pvt. Ltd. CEO Rahul Vira.
Since its inception in 2013, the Jr. NBA program has positively impacted over 14 million youth and 15,000 physical education instructors across 35 cities in India. The ACG Jr. NBA program is a significant addition to the NBA’s broader basketball development efforts in the country, which include the NBA Basketball School—offering tuition-based development programs for players aged 6-18—and Basketball Without Borders Asia, the global outreach program held in India twice.
This new collaboration represents a major step forward in fostering basketball talent and enthusiasm across India, creating a robust foundation for the sport’s future growth.
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