I HAVE followed the career of Indian basketball player Satnam Singh ever since he was selected 52nd overall by the Dallas Mavericks in the 2015 National Basketball Association (NBA) Draft. He played two uneventful seasons with Dallas’ D-League affiliate the Texas Legends before being released. He played for St. John’s Edge in Canada but that was it. At 24, his career is definitely at a crossroads. More so now that he was busted late last year for doping.
I just rewatched One in a Billion (on Netflix) that film the NBA did on following Singh’s journey from Baloke, Punjab, India, to the NBA. While I laud the efforts of others to get Singh into tip-top basketball shape, the bigger picture, of course, was capturing India’s market.
Money. And more money.
Truthfully, I was really worried about Singh. I didn’t think that he was mentally, physically, or even emotionally ready for the NBA. After all, he was just a kid out of high school. Granted that the SAT’s did not allow him to go to an American college, but I think that his handlers should have sent him to college where he would have really benefit him in more ways than one.
High school to the NBA is such a massive jump especially for a teenager. Your body isn’t fully developed what more your mind and way of thinking? And then there’s basketball. Five years of basketball isn’t enough against others who have been playing the game at a high level for most of their lives. Now image going against—at that time—DeAndre Jordan and Dwight Howard. Even others in the Dallas roster might not look at him as a teammate but a person who could potentially take away his livelihood if he does get better as a hoopster.
Furthermore, there is the weight of expectations. From a nation of over a billion people to the people who helped him along the way.
I think all over the world, people overlook the adjustment phase. I have even chided my own alma mater when we lost seven basketball stalwarts to academics. You do not just uproot anyone from their environment and tell them to make the grade. You need to provide mentors as much as tutors. It is a responsibility.
The same way with Singh.
I remember when the Indian national team took part in the 2013 Fiba Asia Championships. Their team were crowd favorites among Filipinos. It was there I got to see 6-foot-11 Amritpal Singh, 6-foot-8 Amyjot Singh, and 6-foot-4 Vishesh Bhriguvanshi. And since that tournament, their team has gotten better. They aren’t just a bunch of tall players who have been cobbled together. No, they are better skills-wise. Much better. And they are fun to watch.
I remember talking to an NBA scout that Tim Cone introduced to me and he remarked that basketball was in its infancy in India. “Wait until they learn the game,” he said.
And boy, do we know that. Time was the tough teams in Asia were China, Japan, Korea and the Philippines. Now you have to add Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar, UAE and the Oceania countries Australia and New Zealand to the mix. Even the Thais and the Indonesians are getting better.
Granted that India hasn’t really won in recent times, but one can hope there is a silver lining for their own Golden Generation.
And that brings me back to Satnam Singh.
It hasn’t really worked put for Satnam in basketball. But he is still young. Hopefully, he uses these setbacks as motivation to get better. It would be nice to see him maybe here in the Asean Basketball League where there is good competition.
Am just rooting for the Big Fella. And that nation of cricket players.