Satnam Singh Bhamara
First Indian drafted into the NBA; now a professional wrestler
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- 30 yrs
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Satnam Singh Bhamara is a former basketball player who became the first Indian drafted into the NBA when the Dallas Mavericks picked him 52nd overall in 2015. Standing 2.18 m (7 ft 2 in), he later turned to professional wrestling with All Elite Wrestling.
Biography
Early life
Satnam Singh was born in Ballo Ke, a small village in Punjab, where his father and grandfather were wheat farmers and millers. By nine he was already 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) tall, and his father, who had also played basketball, put up a hoop in a dirt courtyard near their home. At ten he enrolled at the Ludhiana Basketball Academy, and by 14 he stood 1.98 m and wore size-18 shoes. He idolised Kobe Bryant and modelled his game on Yao Ming and Dwight Howard.
IMG Academy and the NBA draft
After leading Punjab to a youth national title in 2010 and impressing at an NBA Basketball Without Borders camp in Singapore, he was awarded a scholarship by IMG Reliance to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. In June 2015 the Dallas Mavericks selected him 52nd overall — the first Indian player ever drafted into the NBA. He went on to play for the Mavericks’ G League affiliate, the Texas Legends, and represented India internationally.
Professional wrestling
Singh later turned to professional wrestling and signed with All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he competes as a giant, and also appears for its sister promotion Ring of Honor.
Legacy
His selection in the draft was celebrated across India as a breakthrough for the country in the world’s top basketball league, and his story was told in the documentary film One in a Billion (2016).
Personal life
Singh is the son of Balbir Singh and Sukhwinder Kaur and has a sister and brother. He has spoken about the cultural adjustment of moving from a small Punjabi village to Florida as a teenager with little English, and about the importance of his family’s support.
Timeline
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1995
Born in Ballo Ke, Barnala district, Punjab
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2006
Joins the Ludhiana Basketball Academy
Aged about ten.
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2010
Leads Punjab to a youth national title
Wins an IMG Academy scholarship.
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2015
Drafted by the Dallas Mavericks
First Indian selected in the NBA draft.
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2016
Documentary One in a Billion released
Did you know?
-
1
Villagers nicknamed him “Chhotu” (little one) because of his height.
-
2
He wore size-18 shoes by the age of 14.
-
3
His NBA draft story is told in the documentary One in a Billion.
Gallery
Connections
Frequently asked
Who is Satnam Singh Bhamara?
Satnam Singh Bhamara is a former basketball player who became the first Indian drafted into the NBA when the Dallas Mavericks picked him 52nd overall in 2015. Standing 2.18 m (7 ft 2 in), he later turned to professional wrestling with All Elite Wrestling.
How old is Satnam Singh Bhamara?
Satnam Singh Bhamara is 30 years old, born on 10 December 1995 in Ballo Ke, Barnala district, Punjab.
Where is Satnam Singh Bhamara from?
Satnam Singh Bhamara was born in Ballo Ke, Barnala district, Punjab.
What is Satnam Singh Bhamara known for?
Satnam Singh Bhamara is best known for Selected by the Dallas Mavericks in the 2015 NBA draft.
References
- Satnam Singh Bhamara — Wikipedia. Wikipedia. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
- Satnam Singh Bhamara — IMDb. IMDb. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
- Satnam Singh Bhamara — Hindi Wikipedia. Wikipedia (Hindi). Retrieved 26 October 2026.
- Satnam Singh Bhamara (Q18205475) — structured data. Wikidata. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
External links
About this profile
- Researched by the TrackFame editors; reviewed by Sanjay Sokal
- First published 26 October 2026
- Last updated
Cite this page
“Satnam Singh Bhamara.” TrackFame, last updated 26 October 2026. https://trackfame.com/person/satnam-singh-bhamara
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