New King Amritpal Singh, the first Indian to play for an Australian team in the NBL, mobbed by fans
SYDNEY Kings’ newest and tallest basketballer Amritpal Singh is hoping more of his compatriots will be inspired to play basketball, after he became the first Indian to play for an Australian team in the NBL.
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SYDNEY Kings’ newest and tallest basketballer Amritpal Singh is hoping more of his compatriots will be inspired to play basketball, after he became the first Indian to play for an Australian team in the NBL.
The 212cm tall (seven foot) centre and Indian national captain signed up for the Kings last month after impressing the club scouts during trials in Melbourne.
For someone not very well known back in his country, Amritpal could be more popular in Australia specially if the Sydney Kings make a big impact in the 2017-18 NBL season. Their opening game is on October 7 against the Adelaide 36ers.
Amritpal, 26, was mobbed when he met students at Glenwood’s Guru Nanak Punjabi School and other members of the Indian community on Saturday. “I am very happy to sign up with the Sydney Kings and be the first Indian to play for an Australian NBL team,” Amritpal told the Times.
“I want to do my best in my first season with the Kings an I hope the Indians will support me and the team.
“Basketball is not very popular in India and our league is not well organised or known.
“I was not a tall kid when I was young and only got this sudden growth spurt when I was grade eight or nine.
“Regarding playing in the National Basketball Association (NBA in the US), I would love to but will take it step by step.”
Amritpal caught the attention of the Kings in April during the National Basketball league Draft Combine in Melbourne, before impressing during the Sydney Kings’ Rookie Camp in June.
The giant basketballer then played for the Sydney Kings invitational team at the recent Atlas Challenge tournament in China, helping them to win the title.
Amritpal scored 17 points and 16 rebounds in the final where the purple and gold overpowered formidable Lithuania.
The Kings said his size, mobility and work ethic would be a welcome addition to a revamped Sydney front court that features rookies Isaac Humphries and Dane Pineau, import Perry Ellis and veteran Tom Garlepp.
“Amritpal was a very strong contributor to the Kings off-season program, particularly during our invitational tour to China,” Sydney Kings head coach and NBA legend Andrew Gaze said.
“His rebounding was a major factor that allowed us to win the Suzhou (China) event, and he also picked up our overall playing philosophies and schemes quite quickly.”
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