1st ever Mahindra NBA Challenge National Championship concludes in Delhi

The best performing-basketball teams form the Mahindra NBA Challenge tournaments across the country were brought together to the capital for the first-ever Mahindra NBA Challenge National Championship from October 4-7, at the Thyagraj Stadium in New Delhi. With teams from Delhi, Maharashtra, Kerala, Karnataka, and Punjab invited, competitions were held in the Senior Men, Senior Women, under-18 boys, and under-18 girls sections. Kerala (Men), Delhi (Women), Punjab (U18 Boys), and Karnataka (U18 Girls) won the Finals in their respective competitions on Sunday.

The day begun with the under 18 Boys final between Punjab and Karnataka. After a close start, the Punjab side came into their own as they slowly began to build a strong lead against Karnataka. The match ended with a final score of 107–69 and Punjab taking the title.

The under-18 Girls finals between Karnataka and Kerala saw a fight till the end as Karnataka - playing some strong defense - came out victorious 59–43.

Kerala's Men came out on top with a convincing victory over Karnataka 75-53. In the Senior Women's division, Delhi beat Kerala after a close game 50-45.

Winners

Men: Kerala

Women: Delhi

U18 Boys: Punjab

U18 Girls: Karnataka

Tournament MVPs

Men: Manoj R (Kerala)

Women: Prashanti Singh (Delhi)

U18 Boys: Palpreet Singh Brar (Punjab)

U18 Girls: Roshini Rosa John (Karnataka)

Three-time NBA Champion Luc Longley was present throughout the event to interact with players and handed over the winning team their trophies. The Most Valuable Players (Men and Women) in both the Senior and Junior divisions will win special awards from the tournament's sponsors.

1st ever Mahindra NBA Challenge National Championship to be held in New Delhi

For the past three years, the Mahindra NBA Challenge - the largest, inner-city amateur basketball league in India - has been held across various cities in the country. Now, for the first time, the NBA will bring the best of all the different cities together for a national championship at the Thyagraj Stadium in New Delhi from October 4-7. The National Championship will be organised jointly by the Mahindra-NBA and the Basketball Federation of India (BFI).

The winning teams from the Senior and Under-18 divisions, for both men and women, in each city will travel to Delhi to compete for the championship.

Three-time NBA Champion Luc Longley will be present throughout the event to host clinics for the qualifying teams. Longley is the first Australian to have ever played in the NBA. During his eleven-year career, he played with the New York Knicks, Phoenix Suns, Chicago Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves.

I wrote about his legacy as a lesser-known cog in one of the greatest squads ever: the 1995-1998 Chicago Bulls here.

The Most Valuable Players (Men and Women) in both the Senior and Junior divisions will win special awards from the tournament's sponsors.

Season Three of the Mahindra NBA Challenge has taken place in five cities. The programme began in Mumbai in November last year and was followed by Delhi, Kochi, Bangalore and Ludhiana.

Over 600 teams participated in the league, with over 1,100 games taking place across the India this season.

3-time NBA Champion and Australian legend Luc Longley comes to India next week

Luc Longley, the 3-time NBA champ and member of perhaps the greatest basketball squad ever assembled - the 1995-1998 era Chicago Bulls - is coming to India for the Mahindra NBA Challenge National Championship in New Delhi next week. Despite his modest NBA averages, Longley retires as one of the greatest Australian basketball players ever and with the experience of winning alongside Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman. Here's celebrating the importance of a lesser-known player in the world's most famous team.

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