7-foot Indian-Canadian brothers: Tanveer and Sim Bhullar

[CKR13]

According to reports, Bhullar shattered the backboard during an exhibition game against Venezuela, whoa.

[CKR13]

Sim Bhullar with the Canadian national team tryouts for the Pan American games.

http://probballreport.com/a-slimmed-down-sim-bhullar-to-join-team-canada/

[CKR13]

Sim Bhullar is Reno's basketball ambassador to India.

http://www.nba.com/kings/sims-busy-first-day-india

On being a basketball inspiration to children:

http://www.india.com/sports/sim-bhullar-dont-care-if-people-think-nba-stint-is-marketing-gimmick-372830/

[CKR13]

First NBA basket as he entered the game with under a minute left. Bhullar finished with 2 points and a rebound. Way to go Simmy.

[serbianhoops]

With his weight down, Sim Bhullar’s star set to rise in NBA debut

Once the buzz over Sim Bhullar’s massive 7’5” frame gathered steam, fans of NBA franchise Sacramento Kings voiced concern over the athlete’s weight. Amid jokes, one fan went ahead to state he wasn’t surprised about a player of Indian descent with a ‘big fat gut.’ Bhullar, a Canadian international and eldest son of expats from Punjab weighs in at 163 kilograms on the eve of what might be his debut in the NBA after he signed a 10-day end-season contract with the Vivek Ranadive-owned Kings. A massive spotlight has been put on Bhullar, scrutinising his every move as the 22-year-old gets ready for a likely start against New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday. But few know that the big-built boy has lost 16 kgs in the last few months.

Experts have acknowledged his commitment to the sport and have recognised his steadily increasing speed, though doubts remain over what trolls called his sluggish court movement and sloppy ball-handling. “People say he’s slow, but they don’t see that he’s actually picking up and overcoming the problem,” says Carlos Barroca, senior director of NBA India, who’s watched Bhullar from up close. “He has been working hard and has also been improving his ball handling and passing skills. He’s also started dribbling a lot, which is very hard for someone at that height,” he adds.

Bhullar’s height itself has inadvertently brought in comparisons with Kings legend Vlade Divac, another seven-footer. The Serbian from a champion basketball nation learnt his trade with the former Yugoslavia team which paid great attention to skills over raw speed and physicality, hence making the now 47-year-old one of the best passers the game has seen.
Divac is now vice-president of the franchise, and importantly for Bhullar, the Serb takes time out to spend with players during training sessions. “Sim training with Vlade can be important because Vlade has knowledge that can help Sim rise. Sim has been improving his passing very well and Vlade is no doubt one of the best people to teach him how to make it better,” mentions Barroca. “Vlade was also a big man so he knows how seven-footers have to adapt to the game,” he reiterates.
For Indian fans, Bhullar just making it to the NBA is a reason to celebrate. But for the American fans, the youngster is at a stage Barroca terms ‘interrogation point.’ His height is the only noticeable feature in a relatively unknown and unseen budding career. Subsequently, questions regarding who the player is, where he’s played before, how good or bad is he are enquiries that dominate Bhullar’s current position, especially since he is not of American heritage. Yet this is not a unique aspect. “Several years ago a tall player had come from Sudan. Manute Bol was asked the same questions. More recently there were many that doubted Yao Ming would become the player he eventually did. And so it’s natural for people to ask those questions. There’s also no reason why Sim can’t be the same as those legends,” he asserts.
For the past five months, the Toronto-born youngster has been playing for the Reno Bighorns in the development league of the NBA. His time there has seen him go through a change in his lifestyle — eating habits, fitness work, which in turn has benefited his performances on court. Barroca, who has seen Bhullar’s development in the D-League claims there is still a lot more the centre has to learn about. Yet, what the Portuguese coach has been most impressed about Bhullar is the work ethic. “He knows his short-comings and has actually started overcoming them. He’s faster and healthier than what he was when he started. It’ll only get better,” he concludes.

http://indianexpress.com/article/sports/sport-others/with-his-weight-down-bhullars-star-set-to-rise-in-nba-debut/

[CKR13]

I'm happy for him in re-joining the Kings with a 10 day contract. This has been a possibility all season long despite Stockton and Wear being the first call ups. Bhullar was one of the last cuts in the pre-season. When he arrived in the practice facility, everyone knew him.

[CKR13]

Weight loss helping Bhullar's game

[CKR13]

Bhullar: 26 Points, 17 Rebounds and 11 Blocks on 12/15 Shooting. It's his first D-League triple double.

[CKR13]

The hyper tempo Reno has been using Bhullar in post dumps more and more.

[CKR13]

[CKR13]

6 blocks which is a career high for Simmy. He already has fans and they call it Sim City when Simmy gets on the floor.

[CKR13]

Bhullar was waived by the Kings and it appears that he is bound for the Reno Bighorns, the D-League affiliate of the Kings.

Meanwhile, the Bighorns are experimenting on coach Grinnell's high tempo offense that has Bhullar at a disadvantage already.

[sinobball]

Since he barely played in summer league, the NBA was only able to compile a 45-sec highlight video consisting of 2 plays: a layup where he traveled, and a "block" by his elbow. Not trying to diss him but he needs to work a lot harder for a chance in the NBA.

[CKR13]

I think it's just a non-guaranteed training camp contract.
He barely played in the summer league, it's almost unthinkable to see him in a real NBA game. Of course with the Kings having an Indian owner nothing is impossible. I do hope he makes it, but hopefully not just because of his ethnicity.

You're right, I forgot to specify at my excitement. But I wish him all the best and if doesn't crack the roster (a small chance anyway) should be signed for a D-League contract with Reno BigHorns.

[sinobball]

I think it's just a non-guaranteed training camp contract.
He barely played in the summer league, it's almost unthinkable to see him in a real NBA game. Of course with the Kings having an Indian owner nothing is impossible. I do hope he makes it, but hopefully not just because of his ethnicity.