After missing out last year, Amjyot drafted in G League

Tribune News Service

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Chandigarh, October 22

Amjyot Singh Gill’s wait to become a part of the NBA G League finally ended as the 25-year-old was selected by the Oklahoma City Blue in the 2017 Draft held in New York on Saturday. Chandigarh’s Gill, who had missed out on getting picked last year, was the 103rd pick in the fourth round. The Oklahoma City Blue is NBA team Oklahoma City Thunder’s development team. A total of 146 players were included in the Draft.

“It’s an awesome feeling to get drafted in the NBA G League! Thank you to all my supporters and well-wishers back home. I’m really looking forward to this opportunity with OKC Blue,” said Gill.

The 6ft 9in tall player has been one India’s top players in recent years. Gill has been a mainstay in the Indian team since 2011 and led the team at this year’s FIBA Asia Cup. The power forward has also been an Asian All-Star for 2015 & 2016. 

He represented Tokyo Excellence in the National Basketball Development League in Japan in the 2015-16 season. He also played for Japan’s Hamamatsu in FIBA 3X3 World Tour last year, finishing second.

Trainee of Ludhiana Basketball Academy

Gill has become another trainee of the celebrated Ludhiana Basketball Academy to get drafted in the NBA development league, following in the footsteps of Satnam Singh and Palpreet Singh.

Gill joined the Ludhiana-based academy in 2009 and stayed there for over three years, training under celebrated coach late Dr S Subramanian. “This is great news and a huge step in his career. He was one of our best players and he deserved to get drafted,” said Teja Singh Dhaliwal, general secretary of Punjab Basketball Association and in-charge of Ludhiana Basketball Academy.

“This is a stepping stone for him to get into NBA and I am sure he will get there one day,” he added.