The freshly signed Sacramento Kings center stands 7-foot-5, which would add “tallest active NBA player” to a résumé that now reads “the league’s first player of Indian descent” … if he makes the roster.
It makes sense the Kings would be NBA pioneers in this regard, since Indian businessman Vivek Ranadivé purchased the team last year. Sacramento’s press release announcing Bhullar’s signing specifically cited the organization’s interests in marketing to India, including 20 televised games there last season, sponsorship deals, a Hindi website and a tour by the team’s dancers through Mumbai.
“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,” Ranadivé said in the 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.”
Behind the scenes with Sim Bhullar as he participates in the NBA Summer League with the Sacramento Kings.