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Won't play for India again, says NBA draft Satnam Singh

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Satnam Singh Bhamara, the first Indian to be drafted in NBA, bemoaned the poor facilities provided by the Basketball Federation of India, and also said he would never play for India again.

“The national team doesn’t have a doctor. I used to come to India and play even when I was being trained in the US. I used to get hurt and nobody cared here,” Satnam told reporters in New Delhi.

“When I flew back, I could barely tell them what my injury was about. They were obviously not happy. The facilities should improve for both men and women.”

Dallas Mavericks picked up Satnam in the draft this year. “At the moment I am playing in the D-level there. I have to work hard and improve my game. I would rather do it there than come here and get injured. Right now, I have no intentions of coming back to India,” said the 19-year-old seven-footer.

Elaborating on what ails Indian basketball, Punjab’s Satnam said, “There should be a proper academy with good coaches. Players should be provided with lodging facilities, so that they can concentrate on their game. They shouldn't exhaust themselves in finding a way to reach their coaching centres.”

Satnam was in the country for the launch of the ACG-NBA Jump programme. Asked if India can produce players who can make the NBA cut, Satnam was candid, “It will take time. I had the opportunity through IMG-Reliance to go to US and train but since then no one has come up. At least, now there are NBA programmes in India. Even if they get some, they will have to go through the rigours and understand how the game is played at that level. It takes nearly two years. After that the real training begins.

“You can't single out a player and focus on him only. We need several players. Countries like China are coming up so fast because they have a strong bench.”

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