TimesofIndia.com in SINGAPORE: About two quarters against Jubliee School of Indonesia in their opening match NBA‘s Rising Star Invitational 2026 in Singapore, Velammal International School looks capable of competing. Only the Indian defenders moved the ball with confidence and defended with purpose, thanks to magic.Then the pressure came. The pace quickened, the legs tired, and the edge grew. At the final buzzer, the scoreboard read 95-61.In their second game against South Korea’s Kyungbock High School – one of the strongest programs in Asia – and the eventual winner, the court reporters squeezed everything in. Bypasses disappeared. The conversion has increased. Every defensive shot became another attack.By the time the final whistle sounded, Velammal had been defeated 131-46.Head coach Shamsher Basha did not settle for this line. Instead, he recognized the problem. “Yes, endurance was a problem,” Basha told Timesofindia.com.His bodyguard, Fyodor Prem Athithan, saw something very important.“They were forcing the court,” he said. “Back in India, there was no full court press, only district security.
Photo Credit: NBA Rising Star Invitational
Former NBA Academy India coach Kushal Singh also came to the same conclusion.“We know that other countries are good at basketball, so we have good competition to play with,” he said.Over six days inside Singapore’s OCBC Arena, this was the same. Watching schools from Japan, South Korea, China and Australia compete, the difference wasn’t height or speed. The ball was not settling even though the teams were defending the front a little or the front well.
Where the Difference Lies
The difference wasn’t just about talent. It was an obvious one.And for NBA India Head Sunny Malik, that’s why games like the NBA Rising Stars Invitational have become so important.“RSI is the best platform for high school players,” Malik told TimesofIndia.com.“It gives them a chance to compete against the best teams in Asia. It gives them a great exposure and lets the young players know where they stand compared to the best players in the region.“For the Indian team that has participated, I think it’s a great learning curve and an important step in helping them improve every year and eventually become regular contenders.”
Sunny Malik (Photo Credit: NBA Rising Star Invitational)
When asked directly about India’s struggle against the South Korean media, Malik’s answer was exactly the same as what Basha and Fyodor had previously described.“I think a lot of court games can go a long way. If we look at the Indian team, they competed well in the first and second half. However, as soon as the game entered the third half, they started losing momentum, and that’s when they lost their momentum.“Longer training sessions, competitive games, more exposure against stronger teams, and the level of competition within India will go a long way in helping them compete consistently at this level.”
Building a Rare Path
For the last ten years, the presence of the NBA in India has largely revolved around one program – the Jr. NBA. It introduced thousands of kids to the game, took coaches to schools across the country and became the largest league system in India. But, what happened next?For many young players, the path beyond high school basketball is not well defined. That, Malik believes, is beginning to change.“We’ve been running our Junior NBA program for the past 13 years, and I believe it’s a great platform for kids to expose themselves to the right game of basketball and have the right mindset to climb the ladder,” he said.“But from this year forward, we are trying to increase the age range from 14 to 16. This gives us more players, creates a bigger competition, and allows more players who have progressed through the Under-14 program to continue competing in the Junior NBA Under-16.“This extra exposure will help them prepare for the kind of basketball they need to play if they want to compete on the international stage.”The change may seem incremental, but in fact, it is part of a larger shift in how the NBA views player development in India.As the NBA Rising Stars Invitational wraps up its second edition, the league is beginning to bridge the gap.A player can now enter the system through the Junior NBA, continue to compete at the Under-16 level, graduate in the NBA Rising Stars Invitational Qualifier and, if successful, earn a chance to compete against the top Asian teams at the Rising Stars Invitational.Beyond that there are other possibilities.“The RSI Qualifier … is on the cards,” Malik said.“We want to build around the RSI Qualifier because having the best teams to win the tournament brings more strength and credibility to the final teams than having them come through selections or decisions by the Basketball Federation of India.”The NBA is trying to create continuity, and the league’s desire isn’t just to introduce kids to basketball. It is trying to ensure that talented young people stay competitive as they grow up.
When Exposure Becomes Privilege
This strategy, according to Sheila Rasu, the NBA’s Head of Southeast Asia and Asia Marketing, has already started producing tangible results across the region.“I don’t think it’s for the future,” Rasu said when asked if the Rising Stars Invitational could be a stepping stone to professional basketball.“I think it’s already happening.”He also mentioned last year’s competition, where scouts identified five girls who were invited to Basketball Without Borders, the NBA and FIBA’s international basketball program as well as the outreach program.
Sheila Rasu (Photo Credit: NBA Rising Star Invitational)
“So it’s already happening. We have scouts who go every year, and we’re already using this tournament as a platform to discover young talent and potential.”Rasu gave another example that perhaps best illustrates what the NBA hopes the tournament will become.“Last year, Yongsan High School from South Korea participated, and the MVP of the team immediately signed a professional contract in the Korean Basketball League. Now he has also made the national team.“Daniel Edi was first seen at our event, then he signed a professional contract and represented his country. There have been many stories like this, and we want to create more stories like this. “Edi was drafted by the Seoul SK Knights in the Korea Basketball League (KBL), making history as the first player selected out of high school through the KBL’s Local Draft Pick system. He went on to play for the Korean Men’s National Team at Window 2 of the FIBA​​​​​​Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers earlier this year. And perhaps with results like the one described above, the discussion of college basketball, professional sports and eventually the NBA could be a reality and that long-term thinking is why Malik insists that the conversation should not be about one particular player.
NBA Rising Star Invitational
Enhancing the Basketball Ecosystem
“I definitely agree,” he said when asked about the importance of developing coaches and players.“Environment development is just as important as player development.“You need associations, organizations and all stakeholders to come together and invest in the development of teachers because that’s where real development starts, that’s where real foundations are built.”“This foundation needs to be strong if we want to consistently produce good players from India.”It’s a shared wisdom across all NBA events in Asia. “The environment doesn’t just affect the players,” Rasu said.“Of course, the most important thing is to help the players develop their skills, but you also have to raise the level of the whole game. This means developing coaches, players and broadcasting more young people to the game of basketball.“The referees and training clinics help raise the overall level of the game of basketball, so as more games come out, there is enough technology within the ecosystem to support them.”The difference between the representatives of India and the top school programs on the continent was not about effort. Velammal competed, fought loose balls and continued to play with energy despite the long line.
NBA Rising Star Invitational
Malik believes strong domestic competition will also be important.“We also want the strongest competition in the world. With some of the changes planned for the country, including the new sports being discussed, there will be more opportunities for Indians to connect with basketball and become more involved in the sport.”By the final day in Singapore, the competition had produced champions, individual awards and memorable performances.
More Than One Hero
For India’s sole representatives, however, the treasure lies elsewhere. Teacher Basha spoke about perseverance. Fyodor spoke about facing court reporters he rarely gets to see at home. Kaushal spoke about understanding where his team stood against the best in Asia.Malik connected the events to the greatest.“I don’t think there’s a single thing that’s going to bring a bigger audience to basketball,” he said. “It has to be a combination of things.“Having the right player to represent India in the world would be one important step. We celebrate heroes in this country, and we have seen that with cricket.“So, having the right heroes, combined with the right architecture and environment, will help us build generations of players. We want a system that continuously produces talent, not just one player who reaches the world, but many players who come regularly.”
NBA route for Indian basketball (Photo: NBA Rising Star Invitational)
