Following the success of the first-ever NBA preseason game held in India on Friday, league commissioner Adam Silver is seriously considering starting a professional basketball league in the said country over the next five years. He also hopes that India will soon have an NBA star emerge during that span, per ESPN's Marc J. Spears.

“I hope that within five years we have an Indian player in the NBA. And I think for serious consideration of a league, I'd use that same timing.”

In 2015, Satnam Singh became the first-ever Indian-born player to be selected in the NBA Draft, but while he never really had the chance to play, it was considered as a major step for a country who's been giving its best in developing players who are capable of representing them in the world's most prominent basketball league.

Article Continues Below
More NBA News
Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs (4) guards Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) in the third quarter at Kia Center.
NBA news: Jalen Suggs, Tyrese Haliburton cousin truth has fans losing their mindsMalik Brown ·
Duke Blue Devils center Khaman Maluach (9) celebrates during the first half against the Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Lenovo Center.
Khaman Maluach gets real on how Duke prepared him for NBA DraftJaren Kawada ·
NBA star LeBron James coaches from the bench during the Strive for Greatness and Mokan Elite basketball game at the fourth day of the Nike Peach Jam at Riverview Park Activities Center.
Lakers’ LeBron James bluntly puts potential coaching future to bedPreston Byers ·
Cedric Coward talks to the media during the 2025 NBA Draft Combine at Marriott Marquis Chicago.
NBA rumors: Thunder, Spurs linked to rising draft starBenedetto Vitale ·
An overall view of the stadium before the game between the Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder in game three of the 2025 NBA Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
ABC makes big Thunder-Pacers NBA Finals change fans will loveBrett Siegel ·
Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis (8) against the Houston Rockets during the fourth quarter at Toyota Center.
RUMOR: Kristaps Porzingis linked to Suns as Celtics explore trade optionsAlex House ·

Right now, India's top NBA prospect is an 18-year-old named Princepal Singh, who's already played for the country in multiple international tournaments. He's near seven-feet tall, and given his age, it is expected that he'll grow a couple of inches more as he gears up for one of the most important journeys of his life, the road to the NBA.

At the moment, the league sees India as one of the possible countries in which they can expand their reach in Asia. However, Silver admits that in order to start a professional basketball league that will hone the prospects' talents, a ton of work is required. The NBA's top executive isn't closing his doors on all the possibilities, but he would also like to encourage Indian fans to be patient.

Because it's going to be a long process.