NBA: Kings to sign 1st NBA player of Indian descent

Sim Bhullar. AFP FILE PHOTO

The Sacramento Kings are reportedly poised to ink Sim Bhullar to a 10-day contract that would make the towering center the first player of Indian descent in the NBA.

ESPN was among the US media outlets reporting on Wednesday that the Kings, owned by Indian software magnate Vivek Ranadive, expect to bring Bhullar in from the Reno Bighorns, Sacramento’s affiliate in the NBA Development League.

The 7-foot-5-inch (1.7m) Bhullar has spent the entire season with the Bighorns, after attending the Kings’ pre-season training camp.

Bhullar is averaging 10.3 points, 8.8 rebounds and 3.9 blocks in the D-League this season.

The 22-year-old, who was born in Canada to Indian-born parents, is expected to replace David Wear on Sacramento’s roster after Wear’s 10-day contract expires on Thursday.

Bhullar was a two-time Western Athletic Conference Tournament Most Valuable Player for New Mexico State University as they reached the NCAA Tournament in 2013 and 2014. He was undrafted last June but was brought into training camp by the Kings before landing in Reno.

Ranadive, the NBA’s first Indian-born owner, said last August when the team brought Bhullar into training camp that he believed India was “the next great frontier” for the league.