In 2015, the Dallas Mavericks selected Satnam Singh Bhamara as the 52nd pick in that year’s NBA Draft.
The draft was kind of okay in terms of talent with Karl-Anthony Towns leading the pack alongside Kristaps Porzingis and Devin Booker and the undrafted pool had the likes of Royce O’Neale, Christian Wood, Javonte Green, and TJ McConnell. But you got to hand it to Satnam.
His selection is significant for a lot of reasons – mainly, the 7’3 center is the first Indian drafted into the NBA.
On the other side of the pond, former Georgia Tech and then-NU Bulldog Bobby Ray Parks Jr. has had enough. After leading National University to prominence, the 2-time UAAP MVP and 3-time UAAP Mythical Fiver has decided to take his talents back to the United States. The son of the former 7-time PBA Best Import at one point was seen as one of the best prospects to hit the NBA. His move to the Philippines however, ruined his chances to get drafted.
So in 2015, his agent hooked him up to the NBA Summer League. The Paranaque-born Parks became the first Filipino to play in the NBA Summer League as part of the Dallas Mavericks. After the tourney, Parks was selected by Dallas’ affiliate – the Texas Legends – in the NBA G-League where ultimately he became the first Filipino to play in the league and the second player to get drafted after Japeth Aguilar in 2012.
This is where Satnam and Bobby Ray Parks first crossed paths.
With that said, Satnam became an attraction while Parks became a second-stringer. Parks might have been a big deal in the Philippines but he became just another player in the States. As mentioned, Satnam is an attraction. Also, it’s not like Satnam is a prized find. The thing about Satnam is the same deal as it was with The Great Khali.
The problem with Bobby Ray Parks is that he likes to travel and isn’t ready to settle yet. I am talking about being a Pinoy basketball player – as he is currently a Pinoy basketball import. Over the years BRP has played in multiple teams in multiple leagues in multiple countries – amassing achievements and accolades to boast. He should have at least had a Mythical Five citation when he was playing for Talk N Text and I guess he’ll probably return to the PBA when he reaches the age of that of Mikey Williams – who finished his rookie year in the PBA at the age of 30.
Parks is already 29 years old.
As for Singh, he has transitioned from baller to brawler. India is a hotbed for professional wrestling and like Khali, it is easy to position Satnam as a terrorizing titan. The thing about Satnam is that he is really raw as a pro wrestler. I don’t know if the crowd just hated the fact that Samoa Joe’s first feud is to carry the newbie to a tolerable wrestling match, but they really don’t like Satnam and his terrible clotheslines.
I guess at 26, there is a good chance that Singh could pick up some better moves to make the Indian market root for their newest hero. I mean in the WWE, they have bungled on Jinder Mahal and they aren’t treating Shanky as some sort of a big deal.
Veer Mahaan is a prospect though.