Back home after NBA breakthrough, Satnam Singh Bhamara gets taste of new stardom

BALLO KE (Punjab): Of the many changes Indian basketball has undergone over the years, none has been more pronounced than the entry of Satnam Singh Bhamara in the National Basketball Association (NBA). At 7'2'' and 132kg, Satnam is used to people staring at him as his big frame draws attention everywhere he goes. Even for him, though, the last few months have been unlike anything he has ever seen.

Since 2010, he has been in the US, visiting India every six months. Despite being in the Mecca of basketball for five years, Satnam was unnoticed in India. Now, because of his entry into NBA, he has achieved a level of stardom that makes him hard to ignore. Until last Thursday, whenever Satnam came to India, he would take a bus ride to his village in Punjab all alone. From the Delhi airport to Ballo Ke, Satnam would switch state transport buses to reach home.

However, when the youngster came to India earlier this month after being drafted in the NBA, he was mobbed by fans at the New Delhi airport. And for the first time, Satnam was also provided a car with two gunmen to go home.

"My life has completely changed since my name was declared in the draft night in New York on June 25. Everything is happening so, so quickly that I still don't realize that this is happening to me. I just feel happy to be here and wish to make it big in NBA," Satnam said. From America, Satnam took around 28 hours to reach India but from New Delhi, the regular 10-hour bus ride to Ballo Ke was a 60-hour journey. Though he came to India on Thursday, Satnam reached home only on Sunday. But he was not complaining because along with him, even his family was getting recognition and respect. In fact, he met his parents at the Ludhiana Basketball Academy itself.

After sharing his views with over 1500 school students at the academy, Satnam and family headed to the Golden Temple, Amritsar, to pay obeisance. Again it was the turn of coaches and friends to snatch Satnam away from his parents. Though Satnam wanted to have mom-made food, he bowed to his friends' requests. This time they headed towards Jaipur but lack of sleep and change in weather took their toll on Satnam. Down with food poisoning, Satnam was rushed back to Ludhiana. Timely treatment made him fit again and after spending Saturday night at a friend's house in Ludhiana, Satnam, finally reached home on Sunday morning.

After a wait of over six months and covering around 11,000 kms, Satnam had his first bite of Indian food on way to Ludhiana from Delhi on Thursday midnight. No sooner than he entered the dabha on NH1, people recognized Satnam and wanted to click pictures with him. "It is a day of joy and the first bite of Indian food is so satisfying. I am moved by everything. It feels great to return to my country," he gushed.

While finishing his dinner, he added, "My main goal now is to seal a place in the main Mavericks team and play in the NBA. I know it's hard. But it is not impossible. I don't do anything else. I eat. I sleep. I train. That is it."

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