India's professional basketball ambitions took a major step forward on Friday after the India Basketball League (IBL) officially unveiled the eight foundation cities for its inaugural season, set to begin in early 2027.
The announcement was made during a high-profile event at the BUDx NBA House in New Delhi, where NBA legends DeMarcus Cousins, Isiah Thomas and Vlade Divac joined league officials and players on stage for the reveal.
Which cities were announced for the India Basketball League?
The IBL confirmed the following eight foundation cities:
- Mumbai
- Delhi
- Bengaluru
- Kolkata
- Chennai
- Ahmedabad
- Chandigarh
- Pune
However, only six cities will compete during the inaugural 2027 season, while the remaining two are expected to join as expansion franchises in future editions.
Interestingly, the league plans to involve fans directly in determining which six cities make the opening-season
cut, underlining its attempt to build a community-driven sporting model from the very beginning.
India's first professional basketball league targets long-term growth
The India Basketball League is being operated by ACG Sports and has positioned itself as India's first fully professional basketball competition.
Speaking during the launch event, league officials stressed that the project is designed to build a sustainable basketball ecosystem rather than simply launch another franchise tournament.
"The India Basketball League will be the next step of what has already been a decade-long commitment by ACG to the sport of basketball in India," said Karan Singh.
Singh also highlighted the league's recently established High-Performance Centre in Bengaluru, which is expected to become a central part of player development ahead of the inaugural season.
"The players who are training there are going to form the foundation of the talent that you are all going to see on court when we tip-off in 2027," he added.
NBA legends back India's basketball push
The presence of Cousins, Thomas and Divac added global attention to the launch, signalling the league's ambitions to create stronger international connections and credibility.
Basketball has steadily grown in popularity across India over the last decade, especially among younger audiences and urban markets, but the country has long lacked a stable professional structure capable of consistently developing elite-level talent.
The IBL hopes to change that through a city-based league model combined with grassroots scouting, academy systems and high-performance training programs.
Bigger ambitions beyond entertainment
League commissioner Jeremy Loeliger emphasized that fan engagement and long-term development would remain central to the project.
"The success of any professional sporting league is dependent on its fans," Loeliger said. "We intend to engage with them every step of the way. "
Beyond commercial success, the league also appears focused on strengthening India's international basketball ambitions.
With basketball already one of the Olympics' biggest global sports, the IBL aims to create a pathway for Indian players to compete at higher levels including the FIBA Asia Cup, Asian Games and eventually the Olympic Games.
The launch now marks one of the most serious attempts yet to establish a long-term professional basketball ecosystem in India, with the countdown officially underway for the league's 2027 debut season.
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