New York: Teen big man Karl-Anthony Towns was chosen by the Minnesota Timber-wolves with the first pick in Thursday’s NBA Draft, while Satnam Singh Bhamara made history as the first India-born selection. Towns averaged 10.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocked shots a game last season for a University of Kentucky squad that went unbeaten until losing to Wisconsin in the national college tournament semifinals.
“This is what you live for. I’m going to go in right away and be as versatile as I can be. I’m coming with a winning attitude. I’m not coming to look for individual success. I’m coming to look for team success,” Towns said. The Timberwolves, who won last month’s NBA Draft Lottery to claim the top overall pick, have not reached the playoffs since 2004.
Bhamara, a 19-year-old center from a small Punjab village, went 52nd overall to the Dallas Mavericks, the same NBA club that in 2001 made Wang Zhizhi the first Chinese player in an NBA game. Bhamara, a 7-foot-2 (2.18m) big man, became the first player in a decade taken after not playing for a US college or overseas pro team, instead playing for the IMG Academy squad.
Likely bound for a developmental team to hone his skills, he follows in the footsteps of Canadian-born Sim Bhullar. Bhamara could open the door to the NBA into cricket-loving India much the way Yao Ming did for the league in China.
Hoopster elated after selection
India’s Satnam Singh Bhamara is hoping his historic selection in the NBA will kickstart a basketball boom in his cricket-obsessed home country. The 19-year-old centre admitted he was incredibly nervous in the run up to the NBA Draft, which saw him become the first India-born selection when he was chosen by the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday.
“Forget about sleep, I haven’t eaten even a morsel. I was certainly hopeful after coming this far but there is always a big if,” said Bhamara, who hails from a family of farmers. The 7-foot-2-inch (2.18m) Bhamara, originally from a village in northern Punjab state, is hoping he can generate enthusiasm for the sport in India — in much the same way that superstar Yao Ming sparked a basketball frenzy in China.
