Mumbai: There is but one name that hangs on the lips of everyone, when asked about basketball players from the country – Satnam Singh Bhamara.
Standing at a massive height of 7’2”, Satnam has risen above all else, to become the first ever Indian to be picked in the NBA Drafts, as he signed for Dallas Mavericks in 2015.
India have been making steady progress in basketball for the last few years, ever since their memorable 65-58 victory over China in the 2014 FIBA Asia Cup.
Satnam’s journey to the NBA was soon followed by further successes by compatriots Amjyot Singh and Amritpal Singh, both of whom became the first Indians to play professionally in Japan, after they signed for Tokyo Excellence. Palpreet Singh became the second Indian to be drafted into the NBA last year, ushering in more hopes of better days to come for Indian basketball.
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However, Satnam, who pioneered this ‘hoop dreams’ journey for Indian cagers, had to face a number of difficulties on his way to USA, from his native village of Ballo Ke.
A 14-year-old Satnam had gone to USA to train under the IMG Academy scholarship in 2010. Communication however, was one of the biggest problems that Satnam faced back then.
“I was only 14-years-old when I came here. I could not speak English back then. I had to struggle quite a lot at that stage,” said Satnam to Deccan Chronicle, over the phone. Working on his language skills though was something that helped Satnam improve his game.
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“I studied hard to learn English as fast as I could, and that finally started delivering results,” he said. “The coaches also started believing in me, as I started improving my game.”
Satnam also spoke about the difference in the level of basketball in India and in USA: “It was a completely different level, once I made it to the NBA. The level of play, the intensity of training, the coaches, they were all quite different from before. So I told myself that, this is a good opportunity to improve myself and become a better player,” he said.
The 21-year-old believes that his achievement has put India on the basketball map, and will help inspire a number of young cagers to further the level of the sport in the country.
“Now its time for the younger kids, who are playing the sport in India, to come up and play basketball and prove themselves, and take the level of the sport in the country as far forward as they can,” continued Satnam. “If I can get to this level, so can they.”
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However, the Punjab-born cager believes that India needs to improve its facilities in the sport, in order to help these players achieve their dreams. In fact, the 7-foot-2-inches cager has three key points where Indian basketball can improve.
“We need good coaches, backup, good publicity for basketball to improve in India,” he said. “We have plenty of talented kinds over there, who need good support. The players also need to be paid well, so that they can carry forward with the sport.”
Fuelling a billion dreams
While Satnam’s success in NBA has already brought a lot of limelight to basketball in India, a new documentary called ‘One in a Billion’, which depicts Satnam’s rise to fame, promises to popularise the sport further in the country.
“Hopefully, it will give them the belief that even if you’re one in a billion, you can still make it,” said Satnam. “Hopefully after all the limelight that this sport has got in India after the film, other players will not have to struggle as much as me, to make it to the top.”
Satnam shelves WWE rumours
Rumours surfaced earlier this month that Satnam Singh may join the glitzy world of professional wrestling. The 21-year-old had reportedly even travelled to Orlando, for a workout at the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) gym.
While Satnam confirmed that he had a workout session with WWE, he denied the rumours that he will take up professional wrestling.
“Yes, I did go there as per my agent’s instruction, but I do not have any inclination to go into professional wrestling,” he said.
“I cannot leave basketball for another sport right now. Basketball has brought me this far in life. Basketball has given me all the fame and attention that I am getting now. So I do not want to leave basketball for any other sport right now,” Satnam continued. “Maybe after I complete my basketball career, but not right now.”
