Need to get my body right to succeed in NBA, will stay away from Indian food: Sim Bhullar

If you blinked, you probably missed Gursimran Bhullar’s debut in the NBA. Popularly known as Sim, the 7 foot 5 inch Canadian with Punjabi roots took the court for a total of two minutes split across two games for the Sacramento Kings back in April. It was first time anyone of Indian descent had played in an NBA game. He played in what is popularly known as “garbage time”, when the result of the game is beyond doubt and players who wouldn’t otherwise get on court are given a taste of NBA action. He managed one block, one assist and a bucket. But while Kings owner Vivek Ranadive has made no secret of his desire to spread the gospel of the NBA in India, to dismiss Bhullar and his 10-day contract with the franchise as a marketing gimmick would be to miss the larger picture. Bhullar has been working hard with the Reno Bighorns, the Development League team to which he has been assigned, and the improvement has been significant. He even had his first career triple double in February with 26 points, 17 rebounds and a staggering 11 blocks. [caption id=“attachment_2239634” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Sim Bhullar at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. NBA[/caption] “His balance his great and his touch from 17 feet and in his remarkable for his size,” D-League analyst Ryan Blake says in a video on the league website. “His footwork and versatile post moves continue to impress and blossom. He has quick hands and judges lane entry extremely well. Now conditioning is a must for him. “If Bhullar decides to make that change, that personal commitment, his ability, his skill set should be a force in the NBA. It is up to him:” Blake’s highlight of Bhullar’s conditioning is a familiar refrain for the big centre. Bhullar’s body is currently the biggest obstacle between him and the NBA. There are still too many soft spots and round corners. “That’s what coach Karl put pressure on me to do – just to get my body in better shape, to look like an NBA body” Bhullar said. That has meant more chicken and fish, less milk and cheese. It has also meant swearing off Indian food. “It is first time I am home and my mom doesn’t cook Indian food any more. Just cooks straight chicken and that’s it. I can’t even look at Indian food any more. I have to make sure I eat healthy. If I want to get to where I want to be, this is what I have to do. I have to make sacrifices.” Bhullar played a number of sports growing up – baseball, football, and hockey – but basketball eventually beat them out, in part because of his growing size. In middle school he realised it was a viable career option and he went on to play college ball at New Mexico State for two years before declaring for the 2014 NBA draft. He failed to land an NBA franchise but the Kings eventually came calling with a Development League contract. Playing professional ball was a big step up from the college game and it took some time for Bhullar to feel confident that he belonged. “Going into the summer league, I didn’t have [confidence] in my game at all. I think my confidence grew and I kind of knew who I was and what kind of player I wanted to be” In his first season with Reno, Bhullar averaged 10.3 points, 8.7 rebounds and 3.9 blocks, the last number being the third best in the league. That’s not an accident or simply the result of his size. Bhullar isn’t obsessed with points. What he is looking for is an edge that will help him get into the NBA. “Coming out of college, I worked with John Lucas (a legendary “big man” coach). I kind of talked to him and he said, there are a million guys in the world that can score the basketball. But there are not a lot of guys that can do specific things in the NBA. One of the things he said I could really do was block shots. That is what I focus my game around. There aren’t that many guys that can block shots in the NBA and if you are a guy who can do that, you’ll be there forever. “That’s really what I made myself do – blocking shots. Whenever I have the chance, I want to go out there get the block and get my team an extra possession or an extra shot. I don’t really care about scoring. I just want to help my team on defence. I guess defence is how you win games and championships. He is still far from the finished article, of course, and he understands that. “There are a lot more things I can do – especially shooting. Working on my body. Working on my conditioning. Working on my hook shot.” The other aspect that his coaches want him to develop is mental toughness. He is too much of a “gentle giant” on the court. “I am a quiet shy guy and I am more reserved that other guys. A lot of the guys have been saying I need to be more of a monster on the court and that’s what I need to bring out in myself. “Definitely to get to the next level, that’s what I have to do. I think lately I have been lately been able to find the dog in me and push myself more and more everyday. That’s what is helping me get in shape and get more and more conditioned and help me get to this level. So that’s a big deal for me.” Bhullar has also found motivation in his first taste of the NBA. He is determined to come back for seconds and he has learned what he has to do to get there. “The NBA is somewhere where you really want to be,” the 22-year-old Bhullar said. “You don’t want to be anywhere else. You don’t want to play overseas. You don’t want to play in the D-League. I want to be in the NBA and I learned the things you have to do to be there and stay there. “You gotta be the first one in the gym. You gotta be the last one to leave. You gotta show that you want to be there. You always have a smile on your face. You gotta to prove to the veterans that you are ready to play and you are ready to go at them and you are ready to take responsibility. You just have to be competitive the whole time, really.” “The hardest working guy anywhere can make it to the NBA. It is not just about talent. If I can get my body right, I don’t see why I can’t do what guys are doing right now in the NBA.”