Las Vegas, July 13 (IANS) India’s first National Basketball Association (NBA) player Satnam Singh Bhamara, who played two consecutive games in the 2015 NBA Summer League debut for Dallas Mavericks, on Monday said it was a great feeling to be part of the squad, but he needs to work harder to find a place in the first team.
Satnam played for Dallas against New Orleans and Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday and Sunday but his team was on the losing side on both occasions.
Satnam scored four points on his debut at the Cox Pavilion stadium against New Orleans but his team went down 86-90.
On Sunday, the 7-feet 2-inch giant played 12 minutes totalling four points and two rebounds against Portland Trail Blazers but his team lost 80-93.
“It feels great to get two consecutive games at the NBA Summer League. First I made my debut on Saturday and then played on Sunday again,” Satnam told the Indian media from Las Vegas via a teleconference call on Monday.
“I now have to practise, keep training day in and day out and be much better and aim to get into the first team. I have to better my game in each outing. It is hard not to play at the graduate level and directly come to NBA, but I am here to take it as a challenge,” he said.
The 19-year-old said that in both the outings, he has learned a lot, but that he needs to better his body balance.
“I will try and continue to do well for my team. The game here is fast and powerful. My balance is a bit weak now. After I had an operation in my ankle, it pulled me a bit back. My teammates’ balance is very good. I need to better my balance in the coming days,” Satnam said.