Satnam Singh becomes first Indian to be drafted in NBA, selected by Dallas Mavericks

[agamdilawari]

NEW DELHI: Indian hoopster Satnam Singh Bhamara, on Friday, became the first player from the country to be drafted in NBA. Satnam, a versatile center player, was selected by Dallas Mavericks with the 52nd pick of the 2015 NBA draft.

The youngster, who hails from a remote village in Punjab and stands 7 feet 2 inches tall, was hoping to become the first player born on the subcontinent to make the league. 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.

Confirming the development, Satnam had told TOI before boarding the flight to Dallas from Florida, "I am very excited to have a workout with Dallas Mavericks - one of the best and experienced team in the NBA. I will give my best and try to impress the selectors there."

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.

Under the IMG-Reliance scholarship scheme of the Basketball Federation of India (BFI), Satnam started following his dream at the IMG Academy in Florida in 2010. Playing for the IMG Academy's basketball team Satnam had a relatively good average both defensively and in the offense with 9.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game.

Satnam Singh drafted in NBA, selected by Dallas Mavericks - The Times of India

 

[Juggernautjatt]

Truly a rags to riches story. He is from underdeveloped village in my native district. His family lives in quite inferior & small house dependent on just 2 acre of agricultural land.