Ever since Satnam Singh Bhamara made history by being drafted by the Dallas Mavericks with the No. 52 pick on June 25, interest in India has spiked about the 7’2, 290-pound basketball player from Punjab. The first India-born player in the NBA has been earmarked for a special career for several years now, and now that he is part of the Mavericks’ setup in the USA, there is hope back home that Indian basketball is put on the global map.
Satnam, 19, has been playing at the IMG Academy in Florida for the past five years and last month became the first player to enter the NBA without playing in college, a professional foreign league or the D-League, since the league put age restrictions in place since 2005. His age and lack of top-quality exposure means that Satnam, who plays center, isn’t likely to see playing time in the NBA anytime soon, but there is hope in India that he succeeds in the opportunities offered to him this year so that it encourages our country’s young hoopers and gives the sport a facelift.
So far, Satnam’s appearances for Dallas have been limited to the 2015 NBA Summer League – to be precise, just over 26 minutes in three games. He made his debut against New Orleans in a 90-86 loss last Saturday, scoring four points and contributing three rebounds and one assist in a total game time of just over ten minutes. In his second game, against the Portland Trail Blazers, Satnam played 12 minutes, scoring four points and effecting two rebounds in a 93-80.
He got just four minutes on the floor in the next game, but made those them count, grabbing a defensive rebound with less than two minutes remaining and then scored his first points with a free throw during the second quarter. The Mavericks beat the LA Lakers 88-86 in the elimination round and advanced to the second round of the winner’s bracket.
Nothing spectacular, but enough to show that the potential the Dallas front office picked Satnam for is delivering returns, even if at the starting level.
As expected when a player such as Satnam is trying to make inroads in the most celebrated basketball league in the world, his priorities will remain with the Mavericks. This has already been confirmed when last week he made it clear that he won’t be available to represent India for at least two years. India have qualified for the FIBA Asian Championships to be held in China starting September 3, but Satnam’s name won’t be on their roster.
“I won’t be playing for India for the next two years,” Satnam told members of the Indian media last week from Dallas. “My focus is solely on NBA. I have to improve my game and then get into the first team. Maybe after another two years when I establish myself, I will again play for India. The main goal is to at least play 10 years in the NBA.”
India’s loss, harsh critics will say, but Satnam’s dream is to put India on the global map. More power to him.
