Ball in his court

Mona

For his training, young Satnam Singh Bhamara had to leave home at the age of 10, which he dearly missed. He could never find a shoe his size, so had to play barefoot many a times.

When training took him to the US he couldn’t speak English, which made his practice rather hard. ‘Sorry’ is the only word he knew and his teammates as well as coaches had to show extraordinary patience to just communicate with him on the court. Satnam, however, has always considered these obstacles as a vital part of the journey and it all sure has paid off.

A National Basketball Association (NBA) player today and the first one from India, he sure has accomplished a cherished feat.

His momentous journey is charted in a documentary, One in a Billion; the golden boy from Punjab shares more.

How does it feel to be the first NBA player from India?

It feels incredible. India celebrates cricket and every other sport is yet to receive the recognition it deserves. NBA is the dream league for any global basket-baller and I am extremely happy that I am the first one to be drafted. I am young which leaves me with a lot of time to become an established player. I would be honoured if I can at least inspire a bunch of talented sportsmen in my country.

How different is life in the US as compared to India?

Home will always be Punjab, India. But I am grateful to have received a scholarship and come to USA because the training here was unparalleled. They made a fine player out of an ordinary teenager.

How difficult is it for you to pursue a career in a different country? What has been your support system there?

Nothing worthwhile comes easy. My journey was hard and that’s what makes it so special. Initially, I couldn’t communicate with anyone, terribly missed home and didn’t even like the food. But my coaches and teammates have been my pillars of support. They have been caring, optimistic and incredibly patient with me.

Are you able to visit India often?

NBA and D-League are unusually hard championships. So, for now, my sole focus is that. But each time I am injured, I come back home because there’s no better place to heal. I do go home every now and then, but what I really want is for my family to come to USA once. I need to show them how my life works here.

How has life changed post success?

My dad has always told me that success and fame shouldn’t be a sportsman’s focus. And I follow it like my gospel truth. Sure, all these come in the package, but I play the sport for passion. Basketball is my life now, and I will put my heart and soul into it so that I can excel. So, success hasn’t changed me much. But, at times, when people recognise my father by my name, it makes my heart swell with pride.

Who has been your idol and why?

My ultimate idol is my father who believed in me; inspired and encouraged me. He’s hardworking and determined; he’s my real hero. His words, his stories and his actions keep me going.

A player you derive inspiration from?

There are many. If I must name one, it will be fair to say that I really look up to Kobe Bryan. You can’t just spot him without his training shoes and clothes. In India, Jagdeep Singh Bains is my real star.

What are your short-term and long-term goals?

Short-term goal is to bring the trophy home in D-league. I want to have a long-lasting career in NBA and one day, I want to go back to India and do my bit to help the young players out there. I also want to explore wrestling, WWE specifically.

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