Although basketball is a fairly common activity in schools, we never put as much effort into developing a future basketball star from our region. However, over the past ten years, gems have appeared even in limited resources. India has always been a nation obsessed with cricket. The youth are interested in a few sports than cricket. Let’s take a look at Satnam Singh’s journey from the wheat field to the wooden floor, the only Indian player ever selected in the NBA.
Since his time in the NBA, Satnam Singh has competed for the Indian national basketball team in a number of international tournaments, including the FIBA Asia Cup and the South Asian Games. As a role model and basketball ambassador, he has continued to encourage young players throughout India. Satnam Singh’s accomplishments and journey have raised basketball’s reputation in India, inspiring more young people to take it up and chase their basketball goals.
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Early life
In the Punjabi district of Barnala, in the little village of Balloke, Satnam was born in 1995. There are just 800 people living in his village. The area is very agricultural, and wheat farming provides the village with its means of subsistence.
Satnam Singh is a basketball professional.
Satnam Singh is an Indian professional basketball player who gained international recognition for being the first player from India to be drafted into the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was born on December 10, 1995, in Ballo Ke, a small village in Punjab, India. Standing at an impressive 7 feet 2 inches (218 cm), Satnam Singh’s height and skills as a center drew attention from basketball scouts.
By the age of nine, Satnam had grown taller than the bulk of the village elders, and the basketball had shrunk in his hands. He received the humorous moniker “Chhotu” from residents of his hamlet.
He began playing in youth leagues at the age of 10 when he enrolled in the Ludhiana Basketball Academy. He was already 6 feet 11 inches tall at the age of 13. He wore size 18 shoes, which was extremely unusual for someone his age. He had two shoes sewn together and wore them for his practice session because he had trouble finding shoes in his size.
It was at this point that he began to gain professional exposure. He participated in the 2009 FIBA Asia Under-16 Championship in Malaysia as a member of the Indian young national basketball team.
The way to NBA greatness
He stood out at the NBA Mahindra challenge in 2010, which led to his selection for the IMG Academy’s scholarship program. Satnam charmed the selectors in spite of the inadequate resources and instruction.
Especially for him, a pair of size 18 shoes was shipped from the US. At age 14, Satnam left for Florida, where he started his high school studies and professional training. He is currently 132 kilograms and 7 feet 2 inches tall.
The #8-ranked IMG team is renowned for producing athletes like Kobe Bryant, Vince Carter, and others.
Yao Ming is the most well-known NBA superstar and Hall of Famer from China, for those who are unfamiliar. During the 2014–15 season, Satnam played around 20 minutes per game for IMG and averaged 9.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks. Satnam has demonstrated incredible perseverance and dedication by concentrating on his strengths and getting through the language barrier.
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He made history in 2015 when the Dallas Mavericks selected him in the NBA draught as the first player of Indian descent. With 4 points and 3 rebounds in 9 minutes, he made his professional debut during the 2015 NBA Summer League. After that, he played in the NBA G-League in 2015–16, averaging 1.5 points and 1.5 rebounds per game. Even though he participated, he only played a single game in 2016–17.
Singh inked a contract with the UBA Pro Basketball League in India on November 3, 2017, following a lackluster start in the NBA Summer League. He took part in the UBA US Pro Performance Camp in Phoenix, Arizona, with the hope of breaking big again.
He now competes for the Canadian NBL team St. John’s Edge. The Indian Big Man always had incredibly high standards for himself. But he has persevered and remained committed to his objectives. In fact, billions of Indians are eagerly awaiting the wonder youngster to overcome the difficulties and inspire the country’s up-and-coming artists by setting a positive example.
