Shining Star NBA player Satnam Singh slams Indian government,  for not caring its sports stars

• No one from the Indian government ever called him to appreciate his work or congratulate him for his achievements.
• A documentary titled "One in a Billion" chronicles his journey to become the first Indian-born basketball player drafted into NBA.
• When I got a scholarship and came to the US, I understood how important it is to study
  

Los Angeles, February 03, 2017
NRIpress.club

What makes Satnam Singh Bhamara so valuable as a starter that he is not only a leader, he also plays with a ton of heart and said, "I fight every day as hard as I can for my job like it’s my life". For the first time in NBA history, every player will make at least half a million bucks for an entire season. The NBA's average player made $5 million per year in the 2010-11 season.

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is the predominant men's professional basketball league in North America. It has 30 teams, 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. NBA players are the world's best paid sportsmen, by average annual salary per player. The league was founded in New York City on June 6, 1946.

Satnam Singh Bhamara was born on December 10, 1995, in Ballo Ke, a village near Barnala, 40 miles from Ludhiana. His father Balbir Singh a farmer, was the tallest person in his village. Balbir stayed in his hometown and was elected head of the village. He married and had three children, the middle child being Satnam.

Satnam Singh, 9 years old was taller than the majority of adults in his village. His father Balbir Singh took him to a local basketball court and was under the impression that he was being taken to play volleyball.

At age 10, Balbir Singh was urged to enroll him in the Ludhiana Basketball Academy (LBA) in the large Punjabi city of Ludhiana. At the LBA, Singh was taught some of his first basketball skills and drills by former Punjab basketball coach and Sports Authority of India director Dr. Sankaran Subramanian.

At age 13,  Satnam was 6 ft 11 in tall, 230, and wore size-18 shoes. He began getting more exposure to professional basketball and the National Basketball Association

In the summer of 2009, a 13-year old Singh received an invitation to try-out for the Indian youth national basketball team, who were set to play at the 2009 FIBA Asia Under-16 Championship in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.

In 2010, IMG Reliance (IMGR) formed a new sports and entertainment marketing company and made their first move by signing a 30-year contract with the Basketball Federation of India (BFI) by improving the facilities and leagues in the country and allowing athletes to attend the Bradenton-based IMG Academy on a full scholarship.

Satnam Singh led the Punjab state youth team to a national championship in June 2010, leading the BFI to choose him to play at an NBA Basketball Without Borders camp in Singapore.

The BFI's head coach, Harish Sharma said, " I've told people many times, This boy can become India's Yao Ming.”
Yao Ming is a Chinese retired professional basketball player who played for the Shanghai Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association and the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association
Troy Justice, who directed basketball operations for the NBA in India, also visited Punjab and discovered Singh at the NBA Mahindra Challenge. He said, "First time I saw him play, he was wearing shoes that were falling apart. The seams had split, and he was coming right out of them. That's all he had. He was growing so fast. We helped him get shoes. I've heard people talk, but we're not sure they know how big he'll get." Justice had confidence in him, however, saying, "He can be the chosen one for basketball in India."
Singh became the first Indian-born player to be drafted into the NBA:

• In September 2010, he was awarded a scholarship under the IMGR basketball training academy and shifted to Bradenton, Florida. Singh did not know any English and he was one of 29 student-athletes to be selected to train at IMG Academy.
• During the 2014–15 season, he averaged 9.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.2 blocks in less than 20 minutes per game for IMG.
• In April 2015, Satnam Singh declared for the 2015 NBA draft and  was selected with the 52nd pick by the Dallas Mavericks on June 25, 2015.
• He was the first player since the 2005 NBA draft to enter the draft without playing in college, overseas professionally, or in the NBA Development League; the first player to be drafted directly from high school as a postgraduate, and the first player from high school to be drafted since the league instituted age restrictions
• In July 2015, Singh joined the Mavericks for the 2015 NBA Summer League.
• On October 31, 2015, he was acquired by the Texas Legends, the D-League affiliate of the Mavericks.
• On November 13, 2015, he made his professional debut in a 104–82 loss to the Austin Spurs, recording four points, three rebounds and one assist in nine minutes.
• On February 5, 2016, he had a season-best game with six points and six rebounds in a 22 minutes of action as a starter in a 136–80 loss to Raptors 905.He appeared in 9 games (two starts) for the Legends in 2015–16, averaging 1.5 points and 1.5 rebounds in 7.9 minutes per game.
• On October 30, 2016, Singh was reacquired by the Texas Legends.

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Indian government should care about its sports stars: NBA's Satnam Singh

(IANS Interview)

By Sugandha Rawal 

New Delhi, Feb 3, 2017 (IANS) He is the first Indian to turn out in the elite US National Basketball Association (NBA) league and has represented the country on foreign shores. But there is one thing that Satnam Singh Bhamara rues -- no one from the Indian government ever called him to appreciate his work or congratulate him for his achievements.

He said there's a need for the Indian government to provide monetary help for building sports infrastructure in the country.

"The government needs to think about them (the country's sportspersons) or else they will think there is no life in India. Talking about supporting and motivating talent in the country, the government or any minister from India has never called to appreciate my work," Bhamara, who plays for the Texas Legends in the NBA Development League, told IANS in an email interview from Dallas.

"I have played with so many players in India, none of them ever called or sent a text to appreciate or congratulate me for my work. It is about the respect for the game and not about anything else. I want other players to promote the game in India as much as they can and get the attention it receives," he added.

The 7' 2" Bhamara, who hails from Barnala in Punjab, created history in 2015 by becoming the first Indian to get drafted into an NBA side.

A documentary titled "One in a Billion" chronicles his journey to become the first Indian-born basketball player drafted into NBA.

Bhamara felt the government should provide monetary help for sports infrastructure and promote the game in India. "I will continue to do my bit for promoting sports in India but the government's support will be an added benefit. It should work towards providing better opportunities to kids," he said.

Hailing from a small village, Bhamara had to go through much turbulence, like the language barrier, to make a name for himself in sports.

Looking back at his journey from Barnala to Texas, Bhamara said: "I faced a lot of difficulty initially, especially in terms of studies. When I was in India, I didn't know the importance of studies.

"I used to go to the farm with my father or used to play. When I got a scholarship and came to the US, I understood how important it is to study. I saw players giving interviews and interacting with the coaches in English. Coming here from Punjab, I had to study English from scratch. I was lucky enough to receive help from coaches and teachers."

And he has not forgotten his "desi" roots. Bhamara hopes to open a basketball academy in India, and wants Indian children to master the English language.

"Whenever I get the chance to come back to India, I would like to open an academy in my name for poor kids not just for basketball but for other games also. It will have all the facilities that my academy has here in the US," he said.

Bhamara also said it will "have an English medium school, good teachers, coaches and basketball players".

"Kids will be allowed to stay and study in the academy itself. I will also try and get opportunities for them to go abroad for further studies and sports training."

After making his dream a reality, he now wants to fulfill his father's dream.

"I remember telling my father that we will have a big house one day. I wish to make them proud and fulfil everything that my family wishes for. It is my father's dream to travel by air, which will happen soon when he comes to the US," he added.
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Satnam Singh Bhamara: Abhishek Bachchan would be best for my biopic

IANS | Updated: Jan 29, 2017, 01.13 PM IST

India's first National Basketball Association (NBA) player Satnam Singh Bhamara says it will be a proud moment for him if an Indian filmmaker decides to make a movie on his life. He feels Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan would be the best to play his character on the silver screen.

"To see a biopic being made on my life and my journey from India to America will definitely be the best experience for me. According to my height, Akshay Kumar and Abhishek Bachchan will suit best for the role," Bhamara said.

He added, "Given Abhishek's height, I would say he would fit in the role even more. Also, he likes basketball a lot."

Bhamara, who hails from Barnala in Punjab, created history in 2015 by becoming the first Indian to get drafted into NBA, an elite professional basketball league.

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Satnam creates history, becomes first Indian in NBA

New York/Mumbai, June 26 (IANS) Hoopster Satnam Singh Bhamara on Friday created history by becoming the first Indian to get drafted into the National Basketball Association (NBA).

The seven feet two inches tall, 131 kg Indian was picked by Dallas Mavericks. The 19-year-old Satnam earlier took part in training sessions with top teams like Sacramento Kings and Boston Celtics. He was the second round, 52nd pick in the NBA draft and among 60 men who will play basketball in the next season.

An ecstatic Satnam after achieving the feat said he was delighted to become the first Indian to enter the NBA, adding that this will help more Indians to take up basketball and play it professionally.
“I had the confidence while training that I would be selected by any team. I made good preparations and it paid off. It feels great that someone from India will be playing in the NBA,” Satnam told the Indian media from New York via a tele-conference call on Friday.
“I would want more Indians to take up basketball at the professional level and play in NBA. The youngsters back home can now look up to someone as motivation,” he said.

Satnam, who hails from a remote village in Punjab, moved to the United States in September 2010 as part of a scholarship programme between IMG Academy and Reliance.

During the 2014-15 season, he averaged 9.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.2 blocks in less than 20 minutes per game for IMG. For the last five years Satnam has been training in Florida with youths of various countries on an initiative of the IMG Reliance Academy. The 19-year-old did not receive any scholarship to play for American colleges.

Satnam thanked his coach S. Subramaniam for all the hard work he put in.
“I thank my coach Subramaniam very much. I am missing him a lot. He has helped me a lot and I can’t say it in words. He is the best coach,” he said.

Satnam said star American cager Kobe Bryant is his role model and he looks up to him for inspiration. “I look up to Kobe Bryant as one of the inspirations. He is a class player and my role model.”
This also marks the first time since 2005 that a player has entered the draft without playing in college, overseas, professionally or in the NBA Development League.

After being drafted by the Mavericks, the instance makes him the first player to be drafted directly from high school and the first since the league instituted age restrictions on players that someone from high school could be selected in the draft.
He is nicknamed ‘Chhotu’, which means little one. He said his parents were praying for him all the time, adding that he prayed to all his gurus and God before the results.

“My parents, especially my mother and sister, are praying for me for a long time. I prayed to my gurus and God before the results,” he said.

Before Bhamara, Toronto-born Gursimran ‘Sim’ Bhullar became the first player of Indian origin to play in the NBA when he turned out for the Sacramento Kings in three games in April. He said Bhullar congratulated him on his success and wished him.
“Sim Bhullar congratulated me and told me all the best,” Satnam said.

Since the inaugural 1980-81 season, the Mavericks have won three division titles (1987, 2007, 2010), two conference championships (2006, 2011) and one NBA championship (2011).