Hope I can prove my worth for the club, says Bhullar

When 21-year old Gursimran ‘Sim’ Bhullar decided to pick up a basketball back in Toronto, his parents weren’t sure if it was the right move.

But, earlier this year, when Bhullar was selected by Sacramento Kings for the summer league, he became the first player from South Asia to play in the sport’s most glamorous league.

“I played both baseball and volleyball in high school, but basketball interested me most. With my height, it is an advantage. My family has been my main support system, the backbone of my success, encouraging me to take up the sport professionally and make a career out of it,” the 7’5” Bhullar said in an interaction with the media. He will also be the tallest current player in the NBA.

Though Sim, who played for New Mexico State University in college, was not chosen in the first draft; his induction by the Kings is equally important in the team’s drive to spread the game among Indians. It helps both the majority and minority stakeholders of the team – Vivek Ranadive and Raj Bathal respectively are of Indian origin.

“It was a dream come true for me when I got the call from Vivek. It is a big deal to be called by the owner himself even before the draft is over. It has been an amazing experience already, going up against players like DeMarcus Cousins. I am looking forward to being a part of the Sacramento Kings and I hope I can prove my worth for the club,” Bhullar said.

Exciting prospect

Ranadive, on his part, considered Bhullar to be an exciting future prospect.

“We have integrated many Indian-themed activities, including a Hindi website, to build our Indian fan base. When we saw Sim, we were excited about having him on our roster. He is not a finished product but his biggest advantage is his work ethic, which will help him go a long way,” Ranadive said.

Bhullar, whose brother Tanveer also plays college basketball, felt the competition helped improve his game.

“I am working hard on improving my conditioning. One of my inspirations growing up was Vince Carter when he was with the Toronto Raptors. He motivated me to play in the NBA someday and now that it has happened, I look forward to doing my best for the team,” Bhullar said.