Slam-Dunk Millionaire....!

The Indian Satnam Singh Bhamara is 16 years and stand at 213 cm. In the NBA there are some who hope that in a few years he will be the Yao Ming of India, paving the league's second-largest market in the world after China.
When Americans refer to tall players, the first thing they say is that the amount is not taught but it exists. Meaning that the height is the condition and basketball sooner or later he will learn as he is very tall. The average height for a 14-year old boy is 1.65m. At this age, Yao Ming was 2.08 m,  Kevin Garnett 2.03 m,  Shaquille O 'Neal 2.03 m,  Dwight Howard 1.88 m, Dirk Nowitzki 1.88 m and Tim Duncan 1.83 meters. The Bhamara, which currently is 2.13 m, and will get another level, as the experts and will certainly reach the 2.29 m of Yao Ming!
 Bhamara, growing up in a small village in Punjab state of India, near the border with Pakistan, does not even know what basketball is. But he is becoming taller and taller and his father, Balbir Singh, peasant initiated him in basketball at the age of 9 years.  Balbir who's  height is 2.21 m. wanted to be a basketball player, but failed to ever leave the village to try his luck in a sport that is really popular in India.


In the case of his son, wanted to exhaust every room and present him the opportunity he never had. So in a very small yard separating the house from their small barn,  Balbir made a makeshift wreath and screwed to the wall of the house. He gave his son and a ball and there it all began.


The villagers watched him play for hours while observing the rapid physical development. After a few years the ball looks more like a small perfectly round melon in his hands.


 The little onwloved the game had fallen decades earlier by his father. The latter decided instead to take him to the fields to let him play basketball alone. Then I started wandering in the Punjab to find peers and others, to play with them.


After a year, Bhamara stood out really tall and his father began to ask the right and left, which will find a sports academy to send him. Learned about a town Lountiana, the nearest village. Very soon became his second home Bhamara, who at 13 had a height of 2.10 m, weighs 115 pounds and shoes were No. 53.5!


In the summer of 2009 he was invited to New Delhi to test the national team that would play in the FIBA ​​Asian Championship in Under-16 in Malaysia. Included in the group that was taller and younger player. Had little playing time, with India finishing 10th. 

His life has not changed particularly. He knew little about the NBA and the brightest stars, like Kobe Bryant. Beyond that, nothing. He had never seen in his life an entire NBA game. Only a few moments on YouTube. Ηe began to dream that one day will be like his idol, Kobe Bryant. Everyone told him about a very tall Chinese named Yao Ming, but Bhamara always had his mind in Kobe.


At the time, namely in November 2009 the NBA announced that Heidi Ueberroth, daughter of former  professional league baseball (MLB) Peter Ueberroth, would be the first president of NBA International. The Ueberroth had helped in the creation of NBA China and immediately decided to throw nets in the second largest country in the world with a population of 1.3 billion inhabitants, India. Troy Justice undertook director of basketball NBA India with a unique mission to spread the spot in India.


Four months later, the international sports marketing company and management, IMG in association with the greatest of India, Reliance Industries, created a new company, IMG Reliance. Immediately signed 30-year contract with the Basketball Federation of India, taking over the marketing department and the responsibility for creating the first professional league. The IMGR also undertook to create the infrastructure needed to promote basketball in India. To find coaches, build facilities, to create school championships and give scholarships to study in its own Academy, IMG Basketball Academy in Brantenton of Florida.

              
In spring 2010,in the open field in the academy of Lountiana, the coach asked his players to line up. After a while, appeared Justice. Once he saw the Bhamara, stunned thinking the combination of height- age. At first I thought it was 14 years old, has just explained that his father is 2.21 m, Justice asked the kid to make him an individual workout. He saw that his shoes were worn in front, because they grew more legs. Not speaking English, but with the help of a translator did what Justice said . After a while the American, ecstatic said: "It can be the chosen one for basketball in India." 
In June of that year he led the team to Punjab to win the national championship. After this, the Federation of India, sent him to the Basketball Without Borders Camp, organized by the NBA in Singapore. There he gathered the 44 most talented players in Asia and Bhamara was the youngest.


Soon the president of basketball federation of India, Harish Sharma, invited him to play in an elite race, with some international opponents of National men. Impressed by his talent.


The IMGR asked after one month from the basketball federation to pick the 50 most talented players to choose 8 for scholarships in the IMG Academy in Florida.


His father said he would do with great joy an seven-hour trip to New Delhi, along with the rest of the family. Bhamara impressed the makers of IMGR asked to see his father so as he would sign the papers and move to America. The Balbir, just was not meant to cry for joy, because it could give to his son, the opportunity tha he didn't have. In August 2010 the Bhamara was already in Florida. Within a few weeks was able to communicate in English at the level of training. Improve the way he ran and started doing weights. Started making a decent shot with the left, and eliminated the fear was that claiming a strong rebound could injure an opponent. 

 Devoted to basketball, the Satnam Bhamara left everyone breathless with his progress. Pete Gaudet, many years assistant to Mike Krzyzewski, specializing in the Center, took coach of the National Women Team of India and said that if Bhamara played in High School in America, would grant proposals from all major universities. The Kenny Natt, years assistant to NBA teams, now coach of National Men in India, said the NBA's scouters will be delighted with him.

                  
He was invited to the National men team, while last October, Satnam shone in Asian Championship Under-16. He was awarded the top scorer award against Korea with 41 points.


His life has changed. He knows now that basketball can give him a lot. Above all, a better life: "When I left home my father told me to work hard and build a good name for my family, my village and my country..He is proud of me. I love basketball and I'm happy that I play this game. I want to be better. "


The coaches of the academy IMG have to say about the fighting spirit. He said he has to do with genes farmer father, whose ancestors, strong, proud and brave, he was always willing to fight to protect their borders.


The thought of the NBA smiles and refers back to his father: "My father wanted to play basketball, but my grandfather insisted that he couldn't. He was in a peasant family. Fields had to be supervised. Never had the chance I got. They are very proud of me and I want to play this game as best I can. Where will it lead me? I do not know. In the NBA? Maybe one day. We shall see. "


Troy Justice is almost certain that Bhamara will become the first Indian to play in the NBA: "Satnam may one day do for India what  Yao Ming did for China. Bringing the basketball scene in his country. It is very important. "


For now, America is slowly beginning to learn about the giant from India since the last edition of ESPN, a six-page tribute to Bhamara, with the provision that will be the next big international star of the basketball goes through the gates of NBA.