The fact that Satnam will play under the watchful eyes of Dirk Nowitzki makes me all the more happy.
Circa 1984. I was eight years old when my father took me to the Los Angeles Forum to watch the Lakers take on the Celtics. That was the 'Showtime Era' in Lakers history. In those days, my favourite NBA team used to play its home games at The Forum. It was only in 1999 that they shifted to The Staples Centre. I vividly remember watching Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, AC Green, Kurt Rambis, James Worthy, Byron Scott and Michael Cooper in action that day. I haven't stopped following, playing or talking about basketball since that summer trip to the United States more than 31 years ago.
Subsequently, I took up the game in boarding school and enjoyed it thoroughly. In fact, I regularly play at the Jamnabai Narsee School in Juhu. That's how close the sport is to my heart.
My joy knew no bounds when I heard that Satnam Singh was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks on Friday morning. It has been a fantastic few months for basketball in India. First it was Sim Bhullar, a naturalised Canadian with firm Indian roots, who did us proud. And, now, it's Satnam. Simply put, he has just given all of us another reason to walk with our chests puffed up. Mind you, this is a huge achievement. Very huge. I think it's a big step for not just for Indian basketball, but the very idea of sport in our country.
I am sure Satnam will be a great ambassador of the sport in India. But he is only 19 now. Let's give him some time. Let's wait for him to adjust. It's a big deal to get a chance to play in the NBA. The Dallas Mavericks were crowned NBA champions as recently as 2011. It's just overwhelming. But I hope that we can allow Satnam to grow organically. I believe he can be that change agent. Like I keep saying, he has shown us the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. He has proved to us that if you stay true to your dream and trust yourself, you can achieve whatever you want. I hope his story inspires every boy who shoots some hoops in the morning, goes to school and comes back to show a few more.
The fact that Satnam will play under the watchful eyes of Dirk Nowitzki makes me all the more happy. Dirk is an absolute legend. Satnam will get to learn a lot from him. Given that Dirk is also a foreigner (German), he will help Satnam understand the challenges of being a basketballer in the US. That apart, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is a great man. I am sure they will keep Satnam happy.
Earlier this year, I became the first Indian to play in the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game celebrity. There, I met Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadive and the legendary Shaquille O'Neal. Vivek was bullish about pushing basketball in India. Even Shaq was excited. It's going to be a few interesting years for basketball in India.
Talking of Satnam, I have watched his training videos. He is good, but he needs to work harder. He will only get better. It's an uphill task, but I am sure he is up for it. My only regret is that the Lakers didn't pick him. But that's alright. Do well, Satnam. We are with you.
—Bollywood superstar Abhishek Bachchan is an ardent basketball fan. His immediate task is to fix the broken hoop at home. He spoke to Derek Abraham
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