The National Basketball Association (NBA), along with ACG, a global leader in pharmaceutical solutions, and the Basketball Federation of India (BFI), has announced the launch of the ACG Jr. NBA program, a nationwide 3v3 basketball tournament for top U-14 players. It will be the largest school-based basketball program in India. The program, which includes both boys’ and girls’ divisions, will kick off on September 24 with tournaments in Chennai and Mumbai, before moving to Aizawl, Delhi, Kolkata, and Ludhiana.
The top eight teams in each division from each city will compete in a league phase, with the best three teams and an all-star team advancing to the finals, set to take place early next year. Specific dates for the remaining city tournaments and the finals will be announced later.
NBA Asia Strategy Head and NBA India Country Head, Rajah Chaudhry, highlighted the NBA’s commitment to expanding youth basketball in India and providing more opportunities for boys and girls to develop their skills.
This collaboration also aims to foster youth basketball at the local level, enhance elite talent identification across the nation, and create new opportunities for players, coaches, and referees. BFI will be an official partner for the first time, and the initiative follows previous collaborations between the NBA and ACG, such as the ACG-NBA Jump talent search program.
ACG Managing Director Karan Singh emphasized that the program goes beyond basketball, aiming to build character and provide a platform for young athletes to grow.
Since 2013, the Jr. NBA program has engaged over 14 million youth and 15,000 physical education instructors across 35 cities in India. The ACG Jr. NBA program is part of a broader effort that also includes NBA Basketball School and Basketball Without Borders Asia.
