Sacramento Kings make history by signing Indian center Sim Bhullar

Sacramento Kings center Sim Bhullar at Las Vegas Summer League. (Photo: James Ham)

Sim Bhullar is the newest member of the Sacramento Kings.

The team announce earlier this morning that they signed the 7-foot-5 center out of Canada to a deal.  Bhullar’s signing is significant because he is the first player of Indian descent to sign with an NBA franchise.

“I’ve long believed that India is the next great frontier for the NBA, and adding a talented player like Sim only underscores the exponential growth basketball has experienced in that nation,” Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadivé said in a press release. “While Sim is the first player of Indian descent to sign with an NBA franchise, he represents one of many that will emerge from that region as the game continues to garner more attention and generate ever-increasing passion among a new generation of Indian fans.”

The Sacramento Kings have become familiar with Bhullar’s game this summer.  They brought him to Sacramento for a workout during the pre-draft process.  After going unselected in the 2014 NBA Draft, he signed a contract with the Sacramento Kings’ Summer League team.  He appeared in four of the Sacramento Kings’ seven games in Las Vegas, averaging 0.5 points and 0.5 rebounds in 2.5 minutes per contest.

The 7-foot-5, 360-lbs. big man played his college ball at New Mexico State.  Bhullar averaged 10.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.9 blocks in 25.3 minutes per contest while a member of the Aggies.  He also earned honors as Western Athletic Conference Tournament MVP in 2013 and 2014 and was named WAC Freshman of the Year during his first season in Las Cruces.

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