Hoopdarshan Episode 39: Satnam Singh readies for the new NBA D-League season

A little over a year ago, Satnam Singh made history by becoming the first Indian to be drafted into the NBA. After spending a season with the D-League, Satnam readies for another season with the Texas Legends. The 7-foot, 20-year-old phenon makes a comeback on India's finest basketball podcast, Hoopdarshan, to talk to hosts Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok about striving for more time to prove his talent, his off-court life in the D-League, NBA ambitions, and finding life-size cutouts of himself around Frisco.

In addition, Hoopdarshan's hosts also discuss Palpreet Singh getting drafted into the NBA D-League, Amjyot Singh and Amritpal Singh's chances in the future.



Hoopdarshan is the truest voice of Indian basketball, and since we're such hopeless fans of the game, it will become the voice of everything basketball related we love, from the NBA to international hoops, too. On every episode of Hoopdarshan, we will be inviting a special guest to interview or chat to about a variety of topics. With expert insight from some of the brightest and most-involved people in the world of Indian basketball, we hope to bring this conversation to a many more interested fans, players, and followers of the game.

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Satnam Singh named to Texas Legends roster, makes D-League debut on opening night

It has been a whirlwind few months for Satnam Singh, the 19-year-old 7-footer from Punjab who made history by becoming the first Indian to ever be drafted into the NBA this year. After he completed his storied journey from far rural Punjab to the IMG Academy in Florida, he declared for the NBA Draft after five years at the basketball academy earlier this year. He spent a month travelling around different NBA cities to work out and show his skills, and at the 2015 NBA Draft, he made history when the Dallas Mavericks picked him 52nd. He played for Dallas' Summer League team with mixed returns, came back to India a hero to promote the game and work with the NBA's "Jump" programme, and then returned to the US for his shot at the Mavericks' D-League affiliate, the Texas Legends.

2015 will be a year that Satnam - and all Indian fans - will never forget. And now, 'King Singh' finally gets the stability he has craved for in Frisco, Texas, to focus back on the one thing that started off his entire journey: basketball.

A day before their first game of the season, Satnam Singh was named among the 12-man opening night roster for the Texas Legends for their upcoming D-League season. In the Legends' first game on Friday, November 13th on the road to the Austin Spurs, Satnam made his D-League debut off the bench!

The Legends' opening night roster features Jamil Wilson, Brandon Ashley, Allen Durham, Toure' Murray, and Tu Holloway who started for the team against Austin. Aside from Satnam, the team has more intrigue for Asian fans in the form of Philippines' basketball player Bobby Ray Parks Jr.

Satnam played 10 minutes in his debut, shot two of four for four points, grabbed three rebounds, and registered one block. However, his Legends lost the game in a blowout to to the Spurs 106-81. Check out Satnam's first pro basket in the video below:



The D-League season will last till April 2nd, and if Satnam is able to contribute and improve his performances and in-game conditioning, he can be sure to call Frisco his home for the next five months. However, in the best case scenario, I hope that he performs well enough to be relocated about 45 kilometers south to Dallas and earn that NBA call-up!

Meanwhile, enjoy the Legends' season with Satnam - the schedule is available here and their games are broadcast on YouTube.