India's Amrit Pal Singh and Amjyot Singh signed by Tokyo Excellence of Japan's Basketball D-League

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Amrit Pal Singh and Amjyot Singh have been tethered together for years. The two big men share a common state of origin (Punjab), a common family name (Singh), a common front-court in India's Men's Senior National Basketball team, and even common controversies. Earlier this year, Amrit Pal and Amjyot - starters for India's NT and two of the best basketball players that the nation has to offer - took their talents overseas to play together, in the same team, in Japan's BJ Summer League.

And now, still tethered together, Amrit Pal Singh (7-foot) and Amjyot Singh (6-foot-9) - both 23 - have taken another step towards making history. After impressive performances for Hyogo Impulse of the BJ Summer League from June to August 2015, the two bigs are heading off to a bigger city and a bigger league. The two Indian players have been signed on one-year contracts by Tokyo Excellence of the Japan's National Basketball Development League (NBDL). The NBDL was established in 2013 as a second-tier league below Japan's National Basketball League.

Tokyo Excellence has been the team with the best record in NBDL’s brief history, having won both the 2013-14 and 2014-15 championships. The team has active participation in hometown activities and events, including visits to schools and mentoring young basketball teams.

The period of their contracts is from 1st September 2015 to 31st March 2016. Expressing their happiness over the new opportunity, Amjyot and Amrit Pal said that they felt blessed and will look to do their best to make India proud.

The young cagers have been mainstays of the Indian Men’s National Team over the past two years, leading them to the historic, first ever victory over China in 2014 during the 5th FIBA Asia Cup held in Wuhan, China. Having learnt the fundamentals of the game at Ludhiana Basketball Academy under late Coach Dr. S. Subramaniam, the duo quickly developed their game and became vital to the Indian National Team’s success.

This significant move has been made possible by the behind-the-scenes effort put in by their managers, Rohit Bakshi (from YounGuns) and DIME Initiatives, along with well-respected Internationally Certified FIBA Agent Toshi Koga of Japan. “I’m just so happy that these kids are making India proud in Japan," Bakshi said, "These kids were trained in India and are showcasing their training at a high level. The Indian basketball fraternity needs to support them and help them get further by all means!”

Search 'Indian basketball player' internationally and the hype and results will likely point you to one name: Satnam Singh Bhamara, the first Indian citizen to be drafted into the NBA. But, while the 19-year-old Punjabi giant attempts to wade his way into America (and the world's) best basketball league through their Development League system, a couple of other Punjabi giants out of India are well on their way to scripting respectable professional careers for themselves internationally.

Even though they start this new professional chapter of their careers next week, Amrit Pal and Amjyot won't be deserting their national team responsibilites anytime soon. They have already discussed with their new club that they will be available to lead Team India's campaign at the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship - the biggest tournament that India's national team participates in - from September 23 to October 3 in Changsha, China. Althoug they were unavailable for India's practice and qualification for this tournament, their return will be a big boost for the team's campaign in China next month.

This is fantastic news for Amrit Pal and Amjyot, who are entering uncharted territory for Indian basketball players. India doesn't have its own full-time professional basketball league, and the players are right in their decision to make the most of their talents at a professional level whenever such an opportunity arises. Hopefully, they can continue rising up the ranks of Japanese basketball and their performances at the D-League earn them an opportunity with Japan's National Basketball League, too.

And hopefully, the inseparable superstars can continue on the path to success as they always have: together.

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Dropping dimes for Indian basketball: DIME Initiatives announce youth academy in Greater Noida

Indian basketball - for all its trials, tribulations, infighting, and drama - could sure use a helping hand. In basketball vernacular, that helping hand comes in the form of an assist, a pass that leads to a score. The player who scores receives the ultimate credit, but it's the passer - or the 'dimer' - who is heralded as the man behind the action, whose initial efforts let to the final success.

DIME Initiatives are hoping to be that helping hand, the assist to lead forward towards the greater good and success for Indian Basketball. DIME aims to assist individuals and organizations in India achieve their goals within the basketball market. For individuals, the assist will be to basketball players of all levels hoping to obtain their highest basketball potential through training (both elite and introductory) and providing them opportunities domestically and abroad, while becoming better and contributing members of society during and long after their playing careers. For organizations, the assist will be to help them achieve achieving their goals be it marketing themselves, their players, or strategically developing and implementing their basketball programmes.

As their first major step, DIME has announced the DIME Basketball Academy, a summer basketball training programme that will tip off on July 2, 2015 at the Jaypee Greens in Greater Noida (Jaypee Greens - Atlantis The Club) for players between the ages of 5-22. The highlight of this academy will be the expert coaches, including national-level coach and former captain Divya Singh and former Canadian Basketball Player of the Year Inderbir Gill.

According to Himanshu Dabir, the founder of DIME Initiatives, their vision is to create a holistic, basketball experience for players and organizations, which will provide opportunities in and outside of India. They hope to provide opportunities that are outside the reach of politics and nepotism, but driven by merit and hard work.

Check out the flyer attached to this post for contact information and free structure for the academy. Anyone interested in joining email can also emailDIMEAcademies@gmail.com or find out more information through DIME Academies' facebook page.

DIME previously held a summer camp at Jaypee Greens with India's international players Amjyot Singh and Amril Pal Singh serving as coaches. Both players have now headed to Japan to play in their professional basketball summer league.

DIME Academies is the training arm of DIME Initiatives, aiming to implement a western style of training of Indian athletes in preparing them for school, college and professional careers in India and abroad. To ensure that the programs implemented are up to par with top Academies across the world, DIME Academies has two Coaching partners with extensive experience coaching and playing abroad and in India.

Himamshu Dabir (Founder, DIME Initiatives): Dabir has been working with the Basketball Federation of India (BFI) since 2012, and as the Chief of Basketball Operations since 2013. He has been uniquely positioned to develop and lead all of BFI’s major grassroot initiatives – including working with FIBA in creating Coaching Educational Structure, developing the format and structure of the BFI-IMG Reliance Indian School & College Basketball Leagues, and identifying/hiring of the Foreign Coaches who lead the Indian National Teams. He has built strong relationships with all the major stakeholders involved in Indian basketball and continues to expand his network across the world. Prior to joining the BFI, Dabir obtained his B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Pennsylvania State University and a J.D. from Benjamin Cardozo School of Law in New York City. While obtaining his legal degree, he worked as an intern with the New York Knicks and the NBA Coaches Association. Dabir is in charge of all Business aspects of DIME Initiatives and handles the Operations of DIME Academies.

Inderbir Singh Gill (Co-Director of Coaching): Gill is an International Coach for the Jr. NBA India development program. Within this program, Gill was responsible for conducting after school and elite camps to provide basic and advanced training for top players across India. Gill was a former Player of the Year in Canada, 3x All-Canadian Team, 2x Academic All-Canadian and the 2010 Canadian Male Athlete of the Year (across all-sports). Born and raised in Punjab, Inderbir moved to Seattle, Washington at the age of 11 and immediately thrived playing basketball. With limited knowledge of Indian basketball players in the US, Gill was able to succeed through his hard work on the court and in the weightroom, understanding to reach his full potential, a strong fitness routine is required. Gill will be in charge of the Elite Boarding Academy and in creating individualized training programs for the interested players, while also working with the after-school program.

Divya Singh (Co-Director of Coaching): Singh is a former captain of the Indian National Women's Basketball Team and, most recently, an Assistant Coach for the Senior Women’s National Team under Foreign Coach Francisco Garcia which won the Bronze Medal in Lusofonia Games Goa – 2014 and placed 6th at the 17th Asian Games, Incheon 2014. As a player, Singh has represented India 7 times over here career, with the highlight captaining the Indian Women at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games. Post her playing career, she her Masters in Sports Management from the University of Delaware in 2010 while working as a Graduate Assistant of the University of Delaware Basketball Team. She was well respected by her teammates for her game skills, leadership qualities, academic strength and fun, outgoing personality. Singh will be in charge of the After School Academy as well as work with the Elite Campers on a regular basis.