How Many Indian Players Are In The NBA?

The answer may surprise you. There are actually quite a few Indian players in the NBA. In fact, there are currently six Indian players in the NBA.

The History of Indian Players in the NBA

Though there have been a handful of Indian descent players in the NBA, none have been of Indian nationality- until Satnam Singh Bhamara. Singh, born in Ballo Ke, a small village in the Punjab region of India, made history when he was drafted 52nd overall in the 2015 NBA draft by the Dallas Mavericks, becoming the first ever Indian-national player to be drafted into the NBA.

Early Indian players in the NBA

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is the world’s premier basketball league. Founded in 1946, the NBA has grown to become a global phenomenon, with players coming from all corners of the world to compete at the highest level.

Among those players are a handful of Indians, who have made waves in the NBA over the years. Here is a look at some of the early Indian players in the NBA:

Satnam Singh Bhamara – Drafted in 2015 by the Dallas Mavericks, Satnam Singh became the first Indian-born player to be selected in an NBA Draft. The 7-foot-2 center played college basketball at IMG Academy in Florida and then for the Mavericks’ NBA G League affiliate, the Texas Legends. He is currently signed with the Shenzen Dragons of China’s CBA.

Sim Bhullar – At 7-foot-5 and 360 pounds, Sim Bhullar was one of the biggest players in NBA history when he made his debut for the Sacramento Kings in 2014. He also played for the Kings’ G League affiliate, but his stint in the NBA was short-lived as he was waived after just two games. He has since gone on to play professionally in China, Mexico and most recently, India.

Amjyot Singh Gill – Another product of IMG Academy, Amjyot Singh Gill was signed by Oklahoma City Thunder in 2017 after going undrafted. He has since played for their G League affiliate, the Oklahoma City Blue. The 6-foot-8 forward is currently signed with Japanese B.League team Ryukyu Golden Kings.

The first Indian player in the NBA

The first Indian player in the NBA was Satnam Singh Bhamara. He was born in Ballo Ke, India and played basketball for IMG Academy in Florida before being drafted by the Dallas Mavericks in 2015. He is 7’2″ and 299 pounds.

Singh played two years for the Mavericks’ organization in the NBA G League, but was never called up to the Mavericks. In 2019, he signed with the Stampede, the G League affiliate of the Utah Jazz, but was waived before the season started. As of 2020, he is a free agent.

Of all the Indian players who have been in the NBA, Singh has had the longest career.

How Many Indian Players Are In The NBA?

There are currently no Indian players in the NBA. In the past, there have been a few Indian-born players who have played in the NBA, but they were not of Indian descent. The most recent Indian-born player to play in the NBA was Satnam Singh, who was born in Punjab, India and played for the Dallas Mavericks.

The current Indian players in the NBA

Presently, there are no Indian players in the NBA. The first and only Indian-origin player to be drafted in the NBA was Satnam Singh Bhamara in 2015. He was selected by the Dallas Mavericks in the second round with the 52nd pick. However, he was later waived by the Mavericks without having played a single game for the team.

The future of Indian players in the NBA

Only a handful of Indian players have ever made it to the NBA, but the future looks bright for the country’s basketball prospects.

The most recent Indian-born player to make it to the NBA is Satnam Singh Bhamara, who was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks in 2015. He is currently the only Indian-born player on an NBA roster.

However, there are several other Indian players who have become significant contributors in the NBA’s Development League (D-League). These players include Amjyot Singh Gill, Palpreet Singh Brar, and Sim Bhullar.

These players are beginning to open up opportunities for other Indians to make it to the NBA. The increase in exposure and competition should help improve the level of play among Indian prospects, making it more likely that we see even more Indian players in the NBA in the future.