Already standing 7’5″ it’s hard to believe things could be “looking up” even more for Brampton, Ontario native Sim Bhullar, but that certainly seems to be the case. Earlier this week, the rookie out of New Mexico signed a landmark deal to join the Kings making him the first player of Indian descent to ink an NBA contract.
“I’ve long believed that India is the next great frontier for the NBA, and adding a talented player like Sim only underscores the exponential growth basketball has experienced in that nation,” said Kings owner Vivek Ranadive, the league’s first Indian-born majority owner.
“While Sim is the first player of Indian descent to sign with an NBA franchise, he represents one of many that will emerge from that region as the game continues to garner more attention and generate ever-increasing passion among a new generation of Indian fans.”
Dreams do come true! Officially signed my first NBA contract with the @sacramentokings !! pic.twitter.com/3TZc7O4Meu
— Sim Bhullar (@SimBhullar2) August 14, 2014
The partially guaranteed deal Bhullar signed goes a long way to increase the profile of NBA basketball in India. Last season the Kings started that push with 20 televised in India, securing an India-based sponsor and launching a Hindi website.
