.jpg) Singh in 2023 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1995-12-10)10 December 1995 (age 29) |
| Listed height | 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m)[1] |
| Listed weight | 400 lb (181 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | IMG Academy (Bradenton, Florida) |
| NBA draft | 2015: 2nd round, 52nd overall pick |
| Drafted by | Dallas Mavericks |
| Playing career | 2015–2019 |
| Position | Center |
| Career history | |
| 2015–2017 | Texas Legends |
| 2018–2019 | St. John's Edge |
Stats atBasketball Reference  | |
Satnam Singh Bhamara (born 10 December 1995) is an Indian professionalwrestler and former professionalbasketball player. As a wrestler, he is signed to the Americanprofessional wrestling promotionAll Elite Wrestling (AEW). He became the first Indian player to be drafted into theNational Basketball Association (NBA) when theDallas Mavericks selected him with the 52nd overall pick of the2015 NBA draft. At 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m)[2] and 400 pounds (180 kg),[3] Singh played thecenter position. He played high school basketball atIMG Academy inBradenton, Florida.
Singh was born on 10 December 1995, to Balbir Singh and Sukhwinder Kaur inBalloke, a small, remote village located in the state ofPunjab.[4][5] Both Singh's father, who played basketball due to his exceptional height, and his paternal grandfather werewheat farmers and millers. He grew up with two siblings, sister Sarabjot Kaur and brother Beant Singh Bhamara.[5][6]
When he was nine years old, Singh stood 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m), taller than most people in his village.[5] His father helped introduce him to basketball and mounted a hoop in a dirt courtyard near his house. By local spectators, Singh was nicknamed "Chhotu," meaning "little one" inPunjabi, as his rapid physical growth made the basketball seem to shrink in his hands over time. Singh soon saw great success in youth leagues in his state.[6]
At age 10, he enrolled at Ludhiana Basketball Academy inLudhiana, Punjab, with the help of his father's friend Rajinder Singh.[5][6] At the academy, Singh first learned many basketball skills and drills.[4] At age 14, Singh stood 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 m), weighed 230 pounds (104 kg), and wore size-18 shoes.[6] As he was further exposed to professional basketball, including the NBA, he began idolizingKobe Bryant and modeling his game afterYao Ming andDwight Howard.[6]
In early 2010, it was announced that the global sports marketing businessIMG was partnering withReliance Industries, the largest corporation in India, to form a new company known as IMG Reliance (IMGR). They formed a new sports and entertainment marketing company and made their first move by signing a 30-year contract with theBasketball Federation of India (BFI). The decision was an attempt at improving the facilities and leagues in the country and they started allowing athletes to attend theBradenton-basedIMG Academy on a full scholarship.[6]
Singh led the Punjab state youth team to a national championship in June 2010, leading the BFI to choose him to play at an NBABasketball Without Borders camp in Singapore. The BFI's head coach, Harish Sharma, had him play against members of the Indian national team, and he managed to compete with them. Sharma recommended Singh for IMGR to consider him for a scholarship, but at 14 years of age, he was too old. Sharma said, "This boy, you will want to see. I've told people many times, he can become India's Yao Ming."[6] Troy Justice, who directed basketball operations for the NBA in India, also visited Punjab and discovered Singh at the NBA Mahindra Challenge.[4] He said, "First time I saw him play, he was wearing shoes that were falling apart. The seams had split, and he was coming right out of them. That's all he had. He was growing so fast. We helped him get shoes. I've heard people talk, but we're not sure they know how big he'll get."[4] Justice had confidence in him, however, saying, "He can be thechosen one for basketball in India."[6]
Nevertheless, Singh was later awarded a scholarship under the IMGR basketball training academy and shifted to Bradenton, Florida in September 2010. Despite knowing no English at the time, he was one of 29 student-athletes—male and female combined—to be selected to train at IMG Academy.[4][6] During the 2014–15 season, he averaged 9.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.2 blocks in less than 20 minutes per game for IMG, the No. 2 ranked team in the country.[7] However, due to his poor English and lack of American citizenship, Singh was ineligible for theNational Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).[8]
In April 2015, Singh was announced as anearly entrant for the2015 NBA draft.[9] At the draft on 25 June 2015, he was selected by theDallas Mavericks with the 52nd overall pick, becoming the first Indian-born player to be drafted into the NBA.[10] Earlier he was interviewed by the Houston Rockets. The story of his interview by Daryl Morey, GM of the Houston Rockets is recounted in detail by Michael Lewis in his bookThe Undoing Project.[11] Singh also became the first player since the2005 draft to enter without playing in college, overseas professionally, or in theNBA Development League.[12] On 8 July 2019, his draft rights were traded alongside two second round picks to theMemphis Grizzlies in asign and trade forDelon Wright.[13]
In July 2015, Singh joined the Mavericks for the2015 NBA Summer League.[14] On 31 October 2015, he was acquired by theTexas Legends, theD-League affiliate of the Mavericks.[15] On 13 November 2015, he made his professional debut in a 104–82 loss to theAustin Spurs, recording four points, three rebounds and one assist in nine minutes.[16] On 5 February 2016, he had a season-best game with six points and six rebounds in 22 minutes of action as a starter in a 136–80 loss toRaptors 905.[17] He appeared in 19 games (two starts) for the Legends during the2015–16 season, averaging 1.5 points and 1.5 rebounds in 8 minutes per game.[18]
On 30 October 2016, Singh was re-acquired by the Legends.[19] After playing for the Legends during the2016–17 season, he joined theDallas Mavericks for the2017 NBA Summer League.[20] In January 2017, he featured in a one-hourdocumentary onNetflix, titled "One in a Billion," which covered his background and path to the NBA.[21]
On 3 November 2017, Singh signed a contract with theUBA Pro Basketball League in India.[22] In January 2018, he took part in the UBA US Pro Performance Camp inPhoenix, Arizona.[23]
On 6 September 2018, Singh signed with theSt. John's Edge of theNational Basketball League of Canada.[24] His arrival to the team's training camp was delayed byvisa issues, which were settled after he contacted Canadian and Indian government officials throughTwitter.[25]
In the summer of 2009, when he was 13 years old, Singh played for the Indian national under-16 basketball team at the2009 FIBA Asia Under-16 Championship hosted byJohor Bahru, Malaysia.[6] He averaged 1.5 points per game in limited minutes, as his team finished in 10th place.[6][26] Singh debuted for the seniorIndian national team at the2011 FIBA Asia Championship inWuhan, China, where he averaged 2.5 points and 2.8 rebounds per game.[27] At the2013 FIBA Asia Championship, he received more playing time, averaging 4.2 points and 2.7 rebounds for India.[28] Singh returned to his national team for the2017 FIBA Asia Cup inBeirut, Lebanon.[29] However, he struggled to keep up with the pace and only played about eight minutes per game during the tournament.[30] Singh averaged just one point and 0.7 rebounds through three games.[31] In 2017 and 2018, he joined India at2019 FIBA World Cup qualification, assuming a leading role due to the absences of multiple key players.[32] In 2020, Singh was handed a two-year ban by the National Anti-Doping Agency's (NADA) disciplinary panel for failing a dope test.[33]
On 23 September 2021, he was signed byAll Elite Wrestling.[34] He made his televised debut on the 13 April 2022 episode ofAEW Dynamite, where he attackedSamoa Joe and aligned himself withJay Lethal andSonjay Dutt.[35] On 17 August 2024, Singh teamed withRaj Dhesi at theLucha Libre AAA Worldwide event,Triplemanía XXXII: Mexico City, where they competed in a three-way tag team match for theAAA World Tag Team Championship, which they won, marking Singh's first title win in his career. The promotion vacated the titles on March 19, 2025.
In 2020, Singh tested positive forHigenamine Beta-2-Agonist. This was added to theWorld Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List in 2017 and was classified as a beta-2 agonist, meaning it is prohibited at all times, both in and out of competition. Due to this issue, theNational Anti-Doping Agency of India placed a two-year professional suspension ban on the player.[36]
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