Mavericks excited about Singh, long-term potential

As the first Indian-born player drafted in the NBA, Satnam Singh is a very big deal.

While basketball is not exactly the most popular sport in India, the prospect of Singh breaking barriers has the country excited. The Mavs, who used the 52nd pick of last month’s NBA Draft to select Singh, are also excited about the 7-foot-2, 290-pound center and what he could do for them.

The Mavs, however, are also realistic. They know that Singh is a basketball novice, so they’ll allow him to play for the Texas Legends of the NBA D-League this season and closely watch how he develops.

“He’s got a terrific upside and he can shoot the ball with range,” said Donnie Nelson, the Mavs’ president of basketball operations. “We need to work on his mobility and stamina and those types of things, but we think as the NBA goes it’s going to take some time.

“It’s going to take an opportunity for him to get his sea legs under him, to learn how to function against NBA quickness and athleticism, and it’s not going to be an easy road. But that’s what the Texas Legends and the D-League is all about.”

In other words, while the Mavs are in dire need of a shot-blocker and rim protector, no way are they viewing Singh in that matter at this stage.

“He’s 7-2 with great hands and a great touch,” coach Rick Carlisle said. “He’s got a chance.

“He’s going to have a lot of support here. The decision to basically make him a D-Leaguer initially is a very good decision. He understands, he likes it and he’s willing to do it.”

Singh’s unique arrangement means he will not take up one of the Mavs’ 15 roster spots while he’s playing for the Legends.

“He’ll be a Maverick, but he’ll be playing for the Texas Legends because we feel like there’s a player under there and there’s an opportunity for him,” Nelson said. “And at the age of 19, as we progress and he works with [Legends] head coach Nick Van Exel, that we’ll be able to unveil that player.”

Just so he can get a taste of the NBA, the Mavs have Singh playing for their Las Vegas Summer League team. In the Mavs’ first game Saturday at the Cox Pavilion — a 90-86 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans — Singh only played 10 minutes and contributed four points, three rebounds and one assist.

He recorded four points and two rebounds in 12 minutes Sunday in the Mavericks’ 93-80 loss to Portland.

Singh is an NBA ambassador of sorts in his native land. So much so that his phone has been ringing off the hook.

“A lot of people are calling me,” Singh said. “How they got my number, I don’t know.

“So I changed my number.”

While many eyes in his home country are squarely on him, Singh isn’t concerned about being the center of attention.

“I’m just focused on my basketball,” he said. “It’s very important for me to focus on basketball.”

Singh played high school basketball at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., which is a private athletic training institute. He used that stage as a steppingstone to leapfrog to the NBA.

Meanwhile, the Mavs know they’ve gained about a billion more fans from India — all because of Singh. And they’ve also gained some in North Texas.

“A lot of those Indian fans are my neighbors and very, very dear friends, and there’s been an absolute outpouring,” Nelson said. “I’ve never been to India — we’re definitely going to be going probably very soon — but it’s a country that’s underdeveloped in terns of basketball.

“There’s a huge opportunity over there, and to have Satnam as this historic figure, that is truly building a bridge between one billion people on the other side of the planet and our country here, especially in North Texas. It’s just very unique, it’s very special and it’s going to bring our countries and our people closer together.”　

This story was originally published July 12, 2015 at 10:45 PM with the headline "Mavericks excited about Singh, long-term potential."