NBA draft gamble: India's Satnam Singh Bhamara hopes to be selected in time

A small town boy from Ballo Ke village in Punjab, Satnam Singh Bhamara, is India’s NBA hopeful but he seems to have hit a roadblock. [caption id=“attachment_2297530” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File photo: Satnam Singh Bhamara of India during the Asian basketball championship game. AFP[/caption] So far,  four teams have shown an interest in the 7 foot 2 inch basketball centre, after he signed up as an ‘early entrant’ to the June 25 draft. The Dallas Mavericks, following the Washington Wizards, Sacramento Kings and Boston Celtics, have invited the 19-year-old for a workout session, reports the Indian Express. But there’s a catch. According to NBA rules, if Bhamara, the first Indian to sign up for the draft, does not withdraw and fails to get selected by a franchise by the June 25 deadline, he will no longer be allowed to sign up for the draft in the following years. However, should he withdraw his name in time, he will be allowed to feature in the draft for two more years, provided he withdraws in the second year as well. Bhamara who has no experience of playing college basketball, does not plan to withdraw from the draft just as yet. Unlike Sim Bhullar who played for Sacramento Kings in April, is a Canadian of Indian descent, Bhamara, may just become the first Indian to play in the NBA.  But will his gamble play off?