7-foot-5, 360-pound Sim Bhullar became the first player of Indian descent to sign with an NBA team as he has joined the Sacramento Kings for training camp.
Kings owner Vivek Ranadive spoke about the signing and said that it is a groundbreaking move for India and it is a way for the NBA to plant its flag in a relatively untapped resource.
"I've long believed that India is the next great frontier for the NBA, and adding a talented player like Sim only underscores the exponential growth basketball has experienced in that nation," said Ranadive, the league's first Indian-born majority owner.
"While Sim is the first player of Indian descent to sign with an NBA franchise, he represents one of many that will emerge from that region as the game continues to garner more attention and generate ever-increasing passion among a new generation of Indian fans.”
Bhullar went undrafted out of New Mexico State, but was picked up by the Kings summer league team. The Kings won their summer league tournament in Las Vegas and soon after signed Bhullar to join the team at training camp.
In his two seasons at New Mexico State, Bhullar averaged 10.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game. Bhullar was also named Western Athletic Conference tournament MVP twice and led the Aggies to back-to-back NCAA tournaments.
Bhullar is expected to compete for a spot behind Kings center DeMarcus Cousins.
[ESPN]
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