A youngster hailing from a remote village in Punjab, standing 7 feet 2 inches tall, was hoping to become the first player born on the subcontinent to make the league.
Did he? Yes he did…and his name is Satnam Singh Bhamara. Having represented the national team, Satnam moved to Florida for training before making his presence felt in the NBA circuit.
With the 52nd pick in the 2015 #NBADraft, we select Satnam Singh Bhamara! #MavsDraft2015 http://t.co/dzh0x1XVsI pic.twitter.com/avhY0S5nzD
– Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) June 26, 2015
Mavericks had invited India’s biggest basketball hope, Satnam, for a pre-draft workout on Tuesday. It was the first time that the scouts of the Texas-based team witnessed the skills of the 290-pound Indian center.
Satnam’s young age, giant frame and relatively little pro-league experience in basketball make him an intriguing prospect. However, it’s Satnam’s size and ability to guard multiple positions which is believed to have attracted the Mavs scouts as being a prospective contributor to a team on the defensive side of the ball.
Satnam Singh Bhamara has become the first basketball player from the country to be drafted into the National Basketball Association (NBA).
In the 2015 NBA Draft that was held at the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn, New York on Friday, the 19-year-old from Punjab was picked up by 2011 NBA Champions Dallas Mavericks as the 52nd pick out of the 60 picks, thus becoming the first player from the country to be chosen by a leading NBA team. This gives avid watchers of the game a new face to place bets on with Sports Betting America, so they can follow Bhamara and his accomplishments.
Responding to the fantastic news, former Indian basketball coach Scott Flemming also tweeted his congratulatory wishes, saying that Satnam would learn a great deal at Dallas. Amidst the crisis that Indian basketball currently finds itself in, Flemming welcomed the positive news for the sport in the country.
Satnam to the Mavs! Great place for him to be with their coaching staff…front office. – Scott Flemming (@scottwflemming) June 26, 2015
This is something really positive for India Basketball during some tough times…really proud of you Satnam!
– Scott Flemming (@scottwflemming) June 26, 2015
T 1910 –#satnamsingh first Indian player to be in the NBA .. congratulations !! India goes to NBA .. now time for NBA to come to India ..!!
– Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) June 26, 2015
It’s ok,if U dun knw who #SatnamSingh is.Not mny does either.Even d NBA team,whr he’s drafted in is not sure yet,but #dallasmavericks does.
– afsana ahmed (@afsanaahmed) June 26, 2015
Being the 1st ever Indian player to be drafted in the NBA #satnamsingh has created history. And opened the doors of the NBA to India.
– Abhishek Bachchan (@juniorbachchan) June 26, 2015
