NBA Jam returns to India for third year - more than a million students.. and Jason Richardson and Satnam Singh!

India's largest interactive youth basketball festival - NBA Jam tipped off its third season on October 28th. The travelling basketball festival will be held in a record 24 Indian cities for the next four months with plans to engage more than a million college students nationwide. India's first NBA draft pick Satnam Singh and former NBA player Jason Richardson will be among the special guests for the programme's tip off this year. You can register your team for the open 3x3 basketball tournament at: www.nbajam.in.

The traveling interactive youth festival will encourage and develop basketball participation across the country. In partnership with Sony SIX, NBA Jam powered by Jabong will provide an authentic basketball experience by combining exciting oncourt competition with lifestyle elements including interactive games, contests and live music performances. Through the strength of its association with college festivals, more than 3,500 teams from more than 1,000 colleges across the country will play in the event’s 3-on-3 tournament. NBA talent, including NBA legends and dunk teams, will travel to select cities to conduct clinics and interact with fans.

"NBA Jam powered by Jabong has grown tremendously over the last three years, and we are excited for its continued expansion as we travel to a record 24 cities this year," said NBA India Managing Director Yannick Colaco. "Along with our partners Jabong and Sony SIX, we are committed to growing the game in India by getting more fans of all ages to experience this unique festival."

Free registration for the 3×3 tournament within NBA Jam powered by Jabong is now open at www.nbajam.in. Registration is available for teams of men and women ages 16-24 who are enrolled in college at the time of the tournament. As the official NBA Jam apparel partner, Jabong will create an NBAStore.in Experience Zone at every NBA Jam venue that will allow fans to browse through the latest NBA merchandise and apparel on display. Fans who shop at these Experience Zones will also receive giveaways from Jabong and discounts for on-the-spot purchases.

Jam Schedule

• October 28-29, 2015 Jalandhar (Lovely Professional University)
  
• October 30-31, 2015 Ahmedabad (MICA)
  
• October 31-1 Nov, 2015 Kanpur (IIT, Kanpur)
  
• November 6-7, 2015 Goa (BITS, Goa)
  
• November 13-14, 2015 Bhubaneshwar (Xavier's Institute of Management)
  
• November 15-16, 2015 Jamshedpur (XLRI)
  
• November 21-22, 2015 Lucknow (IIM, Lucknow)
  
• Coming up
  
• Bhopal
  
• Nagpur
  
• Surat
  
• Coimbatore
  
• Chennai
  
• Guwahati
  
• Bangalore
  
• Kharagpur
  
• Hyderabad
  
• Kolkata
  
• Pune
  
• Kochi
  
• Kozhikode
  
• Delhi
  
• Mumbai

Satnam Singh, the Punjab born 7-footed teen who became the first Indian citizen earlier this year to be drafted into the NBA (by the Dallas Mavericks) has been part of the promotional tour for the NBA Jam and was at the Lovely Professional University in Jalandhar for the programme's tip off yesterday. Additionally, former NBA player and two-time Slam Dunk champion Jason Richardson landed in India on Thursday, October 29th7, to begin a three-day promotional tour of the country for the NBA Jam and the continued growth of basketball in India. Richardson will travel to New Delhi, Ahmedabad (Gujarat), and Mumbai to conduct basketball clinics for players and coaches alike and engage with fans at two of NBA's premier events in India: the Reliance Foundation Jr. NBA programme and NBA Jam.

Richardson will make his first stop in New Delhi on October 29 where he will engage with Ramjas School students as part of the Reliance Foundation Jr. NBA programme . Then he will go to Ahmedabad on October 30 to participate in NBA Jam at the MICA Institute where fans will have the chance to meet him. Richardson will then visit Mumbai on October 31 for a live television appearance on Sony Six's NBA morning show 'Around the Hoop'.

"I understand that basketball is growing rapidly in India and I can't wait to experience the excitement firsthand," said Richardson, "It's encouraging to know just how many boys and girls across the country are picking up the sport and I look forward to meeting with some of the promising young talent India has to offer."

The 6-foot-six Richardson was the fifth pick from Michigan State in the 2001 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors. Over the course of his 14-year NBA career, he also played for the Charlotte Bobcats (now Charlotte Hornets), Phoenix Suns, Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers before retiring in 2015. He was named in the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2002 and is a two-time NBA Slam Dunk Champion (2002 and 2003).

Last year's NBA Jam visited 16 cities across India and reached more than 400,000 students.