Los Angeles: The Sacramento Kings signed Sim Bhullar to a 10-day contract on Thursday, making the towering centre the first player of Indian descent on an NBA team’s regular-season roster.
The Kings, owned by Indian software magnate Vivek Ranadive, brought Bhullar in from the Reno Bighorns, Sacramento’s affiliate in the NBA Development League.
The 7ft 5in (2.27m) Bhullar has spent the entire season with the Bighorns after attending the Kings’ preseason training camp.
Bhullar is averaging 10.3 points, 8.8 rebounds and 3.9 blocks in the D-League this season.
The 22-year-old, who was born in Canada to Indian-born parents, was a two-time Western Athletic Conference Tournament Most Valuable Player for New Mexico State University as they reached the NCAA Tournament in 2013 and 2014. He was undrafted last June but was brought into training camp by the Kings before landing in Reno.
Although conditioning has been a concern for the 159kg player, Kings coach George Karl said Bhullar could add “a very interesting dimension to the game.”
“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,” Mumbai-born Ranadive said announcing Bhullar’s signing.
“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 added: “I’m excited that I’m going to the Kings because I have a good relationship with everybody there.
“I’m just happy that I can be a role model or a trail blazer for younger kids in India and all over the world. Hopefully I can help them fall in love with the game more and try to pursue it a lot more.”
