Basketball Players of Indian Origin who made it to the NBA Draft
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is among one of the world’s most celebrated leagues. If you are an aspiring basketball player, then being a part of one of the 30 NBA teams is like a dream come true.
Over the 74 seasons of NBA games, we’ve watched and appreciated players like Tim Dunkan, Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. But for all the Indian fans, we worship the players from our country who made it big as a sportsperson. The era of Indian players in the NBA games started in 2015 when Sim Bhullar became the first player of Indian descent to play in an NBA game. Since then, the world has seen three other players who have been rostered or participated in either the NBA Summer League or G-League.
Let’s take a look at them:
1. Sim Bhullar
Sim Bhullar, a 7’3” centre, was undrafted in the 2014 NBA draft but jumped on the Sacramento Kings Summer League team that offseason. He then went on board with the Reno Bighorns, the Kings’ G-League affiliate, where he played most of his 2014-15 season. Later that season, Sacramento Kings signed him to a 10-day contract. On April 8 2015, he became the first Indian player to score in an NBA game after securing two points against Utah Jazz. In the 2015-16 season, he played for the Toronto Raptors’ G-League affiliate, the Raptors 905. He currently plays in NBL China for Guangxi Weizhuang.
2. Satnam Singh
Even though Bhullar became the first Indian to play in an NBA Game, Satnam Singh, a 7’2” centre, made history by becoming the first Indian player to be selected in the NBA Draft. In the second round of the 2015 NBA draft, he was picked up by Dallas Mavericks. However, he was dismissed by the Maverick and picked up by their G-League affiliate, the Texas Legends.
In the 2016-17 season, he was resigned by the Legends. He currently plays for the St. John’s Edge in the NBL of Canada.
3. Amjyot Singh
Amjyot Singh, a 6’8” forward, went undrafted in 2014. In the 2017-18n season, he joined the Thunder’s G-League affiliate called Oklahoma City Blue. The Blue waived him at the end of the season, only to sign him back five days later. He is currently on the Blue’s roster for the next G-League season.
4. Palpreet Singh
Even though Palpreet Singh, a 6’9” forward, was drafted to the Long Island Nets in the fourth round of the 2016 NBA Developmental League, he hasn’t played an NBA or G-League game yet.
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