"If I don't get picked in the NBA Draft, I'll try my luck in D-League and return to the NBA next year": Satnam Singh

Satnam Singh Bhamara poses with some youngsters

They say a sportsman’s journey often starts when he derives a unique passion for anything. Something similar also happened in the case of Satnam Singh Bhamara, the 19-year-old Indian basketball player who could be on the cusp of achieving something quite extraordinary- a place in the premier basketball league in the world, NBA.

Ahead of the NBA Draft on June 25th, Satnam talks to Ekalavya’s Youtube channel about his early introduction to the sport, the role played by IMG Reliance in his career and also has an advice to young upcoming basketball players.

Q. When did you first start playing basketball?

A: I started playing basketball in 2005. Like in most cases, I initially played cricket in my village and then when I returned to Ludhiana, A friend of my father suggested me to take up basketball seriously.

He helped my father and my father asked me if I would be interested to take up sports and I said yes.

I then met the then President of the Basketball Federation of India(BFI) Mr. RS Gill and also got introduced to the President of the Punjab Basketball Association Mr. Teja Singh. I then got enrolled into the Ludhiana Basketball Academy and that’s where my journey in the sport began.

Q. Now at the age of 19, you have enrolled your name in the 2015 NBA Draft. How has your experience been so far?

A: Ever since I first began playing the sport, I was first mentored my the late Mr. Subramanium at the Ludhiana Basketball Academy. Then I represented Punjab at the state level and represented Ludhiana.Then I got noticed by the coaches at the national level and Mr.Teja Singh asked me if I would be interested to train with the Indian team, this was around 2007-08 and I said yes.

That year, I played for India at the U16 youth division and that's where an American coach saw me and called up my coach and told him,” I want this kid and want to most certainly take him as he is a good kid and is playing well too,” and over there, I got a great opportunity to go forward.

I kept getting better from there on and kept improving. After that the then CEO of the BFI, Mr Harish Sharma was also very impressed with my performances and felt that I had the ability and potential in me to scale greater heights in the future.

He asked the national coaches to continuously work with me and I was always on standby for the until 2010. And after that, I shifted my base to America.

Q. Who is your favourite basketball player?

A: My role model is Kobe Bryant because the first game I saw on television in India was between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami Heat.

Another player who I admire the most is the Indian player from Punjab Jagdeep Singh Bains. He was a real superstar player. Unfortunately, he’s injured right now, but I respect him now just as much as I did 3-4 years back.

Q. How much of a help have IMG Reliance been?

A: In 2010, when I was still playing in Punjab, the then CEO of BFI , Mr Harish Sharma called up the then President of the Punjab Basketball Association Mr Teja Singh and told him that I had all the potential to become a promising basketball player and felt that my name should be recommended for the IMG Reliance Scholarship and that coud help further develop and enhance my skills.

After that I came for the IMG Reliance tryouts at the IMG Reliance academy in Delhi and there were about 26 girls and 24 boys over there and out of the 50 probable players, they picked 8 out of them- 4 boys and 4 girls for a fully funded Scholarship at IMG Sports Academy , that is based in Florida in USA.

Q. You came to the IMG Academy in 2010. Can you tell us how have you improved since coming here?

A: When I first joined the IMG Academy, I don't think as good a player and I felt I needed to work on my skills, body weight and muscle building. I want to play inside and not outside and because I am a post player, strength is most important. The players who play in the center require strength otherwise they won't be effective.

Ever since I came here, I have worked hard in almost all areas of the game. Aspects such as weight lifting, nutrition and the coaches, here at the IMG Academy have fine tuned each and every move and I have learnt so many new moves, which I had never tried in India.

Q. What makes you think that you can become a successful basketball player?

A: In the past, whenever I came to India, I was never really effective. But ever since I have to the US, I have suffered injuries and undergone surgeries and I might have probably lost around 2-3 years only because of injuries.

But in the last 12 months, I have worked very hard to showcase my potential and to show others what I’m capable of.

Q. The NBA Draft will be held on June 25th. If you don't make it into the Draft, what are your alternate plans?

A: If I don't get picked in the NBA Draft, then I will try my luck in the D-League. I will improve again in the D-League and try again in the NBA the next year.

The other option I have is to play in Europe. But the issue I might face then could be that I may have to learn a new language. I’ve had a difficult time learning English here, so to go to a different country and learn another language could be tough for me.

So, I feel the D-League could be a better option for me than Europe.

Q. What do you think needs to be done to improve basketball in India?

A: First and foremost, we players need to develop an inner drive. There are several distracting thoughts in the mind of players.

I think it’s critical for us to keep focus. Ever since I have come here, my only goal has been to reach the NBA. Just like how I have been putting in the hard yards, I feel others in India should also work in the same manner.

If we need to improve in the sport, then the players must work hard every single day.

There’s no doubt that I can come back to India and continue my training, but that’s not the solution

Q. Last year the Indian national basketball team defeated China. Do you think you would get picked for the side and will you be interested to play if you get chosen? How do you think you will perform?

A: That is a tough question to answer because then I will have a conflict between national duty and professional playing career. I think the win over China last year was a fantastic achievement and I want the subsequent Indian squads to aim even higher and we must not satisfied with just one victory.

I feel it is equally important to beat our other Asian neighbors, the likes of Iran, Korea, Japan etc. Only if we win against them, then I think we we will be able to achiveve a respectable status in Asia. If I get the chance, then I will certainly be interested to play for my country.

Q. What advice would you like to give to young children playing the sport in India?

A: My only advice to them would be develop their skills as early as possible because I feel the skills that are required in the school, college and the pro level, if the youngsters can develop them now, then it will help them a great deal moving forward.

Another advice I want to give them is to keep a fixed goal in your mind, a final destination. And don't let that waver from your mind. Also, I feel it is important for children to respect their family, their parents, elders, coaches and the general public. The more you respect others, the more respect will your way.

Don't think wrong about others and don't have any ill feelings about others. You can never move forward if you have ill feelings towards others.

Stay focussed on your final destination.

Here’s the video of that interview: