In the recently concluded 2015 NBA Draft, history has been made. As the 52nd overall pick, Satnam Singh Bhamara became the first India-born player to be selected by an NBA team.
The international talent was chosen by the Dallas Mavericks who believe that his towering presence and shooting ability can contribute to the team's development.
Born in a small village in Punjab, the 19-year-old played locally before moving to the US in 2010 to train with the IMG Academy in Florida. He officially stands at 7 ft. 2 in. and weighs 290 lbs.
Mavericks general manager Donnie Nelson said that the new recruit will be suiting up for the team's Development League affiliate, the Texas Legends this coming season.
Singh followed the footsteps of Sim Bhullar, who became the first player of Indian ethnicity in the NBA when he played for the Sacramento Kings earlier this year.
Mavs owner Mark Cuban was quick to acknowledge the number of fans Singh can bring into the team, "There’s a billion new Mavs fans out there right now."
On the other hand, Singh was proud and happy of his accomplishments and what it could mean to his nation.
“I’m over the moon,” he said in the Indian news channel NDTV after the draft. “I hope this opens new avenues for many more Indian basketball players in the future.”
0 comments:
Post a Comment