CHENNAI: When the country was celebrating Satnam Singh Bhamara’s NBA tryst, some 6000 km away in the Pacific coast, two of India’s best hoopsters were gauging the impact back home. Satnam’s feat has given wings to the ambitions of Amritpal Singh and Amjyot Singh, currently playing in the Hyogo Impulse team in Japan’s BJ Challenge Summer League.
“Satnam’s achievement is a big thing. The magnitude of that can’t be comprehended fully now. Ma be, years later we will understand the significance of it. Maybe, then we will have a couple of Indian players in the NBA,” said Amritpal Singh.
“Satnam has shattered the misconception that NBA is not our cup of tea. With him getting drafted, our confidence are also high. God willing, we can also make it. He has opened a door for us,” the seven-foot-tall centre added.
Though their contract expires in August, the Punjab lads are hopeful of getting a call from the top league -National Basketball League. Amritpal has reinforced his credentials, scoring 46 points in his very first outing. “That performance have cemented my belief that I can perform well here. Here the game is superfast and technically compact. Speed was a challenge, but we have managed things well,” he told Express.
The 23-year-old from Fattuwal near Amritsar was taken to the game by his uncle. “It was all because of basketball that I got a job in ONGC. I knew I had to make a living out of it. Basketball provided me a chance to dream,” he said.
They will return home in the first week of September and will fly back if a deal is struck with any NBL side. “ We are hopeful of getting into NBL. That’s a platform. Our dream is NBA. I know it’s a big task. But we can do it,” Amritpal sounded confident. The impact caused by Satnam’s inclusion, they have gauged it well!