- ACG Jr. NBA 3v3 National Tournament tips off Ahmedabad leg under ‘Where Stars Are Born’ theme
- Under-16 boys’ and girls’ teams battle for a pathway to the December National Finals
- NBA’s Sunny Malik: 15,000 physical training instructors trained to popularise basketball among students
- More than 14 million youth have benefited from the Jr. NBA programme, says Malik
- 3v3 format promises more touches, quicker decisions and greater individual involvement on a half-court
R MANICKAVASAGAM
AHMEDABAD, SEPT 28
What if the next basketball star does not need a full-sized court, a 10-player line-up or a giant arena to announce their arrival? That is the question the ACG Jr. NBA 3v3 National Tournament is putting to India’s schoolchildren—three players, one hoop, half a court and a chance to turn raw talent into a national-stage dream.
The Ahmedabad leg of the 2026 ACG Jr. NBA 3v3 National Tournament has tipped off at Riverfront Sports Park, Paldi, bringing together Under-16 boys’ and girls’ school teams in a high-energy competition under the theme ‘Where Stars Are Born’.
The Ahmedabad tournament runs from September 28 to October 2 and marks the opening phase of a nationwide programme travelling across 10 Indian cities. The tournament is being conducted by the NBA in association with ACG and the Basketball Federation of India (BFI), with Skechers as Official Kit Partner, and is operated by grassroots sports organisation India On Track. The programme has shifted this year from Under-14 to Under-16, placing young players at a more advanced competitive stage while retaining boys’ and girls’ divisions.
Why 3v3—and why now?
The answer lies in the very design of the game.
Unlike traditional five-on-five basketball, 3v3 is played by three players per side on a half-court and one basket. The compact format means fewer players share the court, giving each youngster more opportunities to handle the ball, attack one-on-one, read the defence, create space and make rapid decisions.
FIBA’s coaching guidance specifically identifies more touches, greater emphasis on 1-on-1 skills, understanding space and movement, and man-to-man defensive positioning among the developmental benefits of small-sided games. FIBA also describes 3×3 as accessible because it requires just a hoop, a half-court and six players.
That makes 3v3 particularly suited to a grassroots programme seeking to take basketball beyond conventional sporting infrastructure. Its rules are designed to make the game simple, fast and entertaining, according to FIBA.
For young players, that translates into a game where there is little room to disappear.
Every possession matters. Every player is involved. Every decision can change the game.
‘Where Stars Are Born’
NBA India Country Head Sunny Malik said the Ahmedabad tip-off marks another step in the NBA’s grassroots basketball development effort.
“The ACG Jr. NBA program is a cornerstone of our grassroots basketball development efforts in India. Today’s tip-off in Ahmedabad marks the start of the 2026 edition, an exciting new chapter that brings this year’s spirit of ‘Where Stars Are Born’ to life. This national initiative gives young athletes the opportunity to develop their skills, gain valuable tournament experience and take the next step in their basketball journey.”
He added that the programme’s reach goes beyond the tournament court.
“To popularise this game among students, we have imparted training to 15,000 physical training instructors. Under this free training programme, over 14 million have benefitted so far.”
The NBA’s official Jr. NBA India programme page similarly records more than 14 million youth reached and 15,000 physical education instructors across 35 cities since the programme began in India in 2013.
Ahmedabad to the national stage
The tournament is not merely about winning a city competition. The top two boys’ and girls’ teams from each zone, along with one boys’ and one girls’ All-Star team from each zone, will advance to the ACG Jr. NBA 3v3 National Finals Tournament in December 2026.
“The winning teams from Gujarat will compete in the national games,” Malik further said.
The standout performers in the Under-16 boys’ and girls’ divisions will also be recognised through the Skechers MVP Award.
The tournament will subsequently travel to Indore, Kochi, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Prayagraj and Ludhiana, completing a 10-city national circuit.
From school court to player pathway
The move to Under-16 is another significant element of the 2026 edition. NBA India has described the transition from Under-14 as a way to create a stronger and more competitive bridge between grassroots participation and the broader player-development pathway.
Last year, the programme engaged more than 8,000 players across 2,000 boys’ and girls’ teams representing 900 schools, with more than 2,700 games played across 10 cities.
The ACG Jr. NBA initiative forms part of the NBA’s wider youth-development framework in India, alongside NBA Basketball School, which offers training programmes for boys and girls aged 6-18 across 13 cities.
And that may be the bigger story behind the smaller court.
3v3 strips basketball down to its essentials—skill, speed, space, teamwork and decision-making—while putting more of the game into the hands of every young player.
In Ahmedabad, the road to the national stage has begun. For some youngsters, it could also be the first serious step towards discovering just how far their basketball can travel.
