Satnam Singh Bhamara has etched his name is history after becoming the first Indian basketball player to be drafted in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Satnam, who plays Centre, has been picked by the Dallas Mavericks in the second round of NBA drafts.
Here's a quick primer on the man of the hour -
1. Satnam is only 19. The teenager started playing basketball at the age of 9 and was sent off to a basketball academy at the age of 12. And now, he has become the first person of Indian origin to play in the NBA.
2. Satnam Bhamara is TALL and BIG. At 7 feet 2 inches, Satnam weighs 290 pounds. He comes from a family of tall people. Satnam's father, Balbir Singh Bhamara, is 7 feet 4 inches and his grandmother is 6 feet 9 inches tall! Despite his height and weight, Satnam is quick and flexible on court. During the 2014-15 season of IMG, he averaged 9.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.2 blocks in less than 20 minutes per game.
3. Satnam's nick name is 'Chottu' (The little one)
4. He comes from a small village called Ballo Ke, near Ludhiana in Punjab. He moved to the United States in September 2010 on a scholarship from IMG Academy and Reliance.
5. There is another first in Bhamara's case. Since NBA changed their eligibility criteria in the year 2005, Satnam is the first player who has been selected without playing in college, overseas, or in the NBA Development League.
6. Satnam was elected homecoming king at the IMG Academy. Initially, he was selected with other 29 students to spend only three months at IMG Academy, Florida. But once he got there, he became so popular, they did not want him to come back to India.
7. Satnam is living his father's dream. His father wanted to play basketball, but his grandfather refused to let do so and insisted he tended to the fields at home. In an interview with aolnews, Satnam said, "He never got the chance that I am getting now. He is very proud of me, and I want to play this game as well as I can play. That is my task now."
Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed- Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}