Satnam Singh Bhamara, the 7'2", 290-pound basketball player hailing from the remote village of Ballo Ke in Punjab, has made history by becoming the first Indian-born player to be drafted into the NBA League. He was picked by the Dallas Mavericks in the 2015 NBA Draft.
Singh was the 52nd pick in the NBA Draft. Since their inaugural 1980–81 season, the Dallas Mavericks have won three division titles (1987, 2007, 2010), two conference championships (2006, 2011), and one NBA Championship (2011).
Singh was sent to a government-funded basketball academy when he was 12 and, after two years, he moved to Florida, where he has spent the last five years developing his game at the IMG academy.
{{/usCountry}}Singh was sent to a government-funded basketball academy when he was 12 and, after two years, he moved to Florida, where he has spent the last five years developing his game at the IMG academy.
{{/usCountry}}"A lot of people are texting me every day, 'When are you going to the NBA?' And I say, 'It's not easy.' You work hard, then you go play in the NBA. It's not easy for anyone," Satnam was quoted as saying by news.com.au on Thursday after his selection.
Singh also spoke about how Indians were taking to basketball in the country, saying it has developed over the last few years.
"India is a lot better now, A lot of NBA coaches are over there training in Bombay (Mumbai), Delhi and Punjab — my state — too. It's gotten a lot better in the last two years, three years. It's (very) popular over there."
Canada-born Sim Bhullar is the first player of Indian origin to play in the US-based league.
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NBA: Satnam Singh has shot at going where no Indian has been