NEW DELHI (TIP): Indian hoopster Satnam Singh Bhamara, on Friday, became the first player from the country to be drafted in NBA. Satnam, a versatile center player, was selected by Dallas Mavericks with the 52nd pick of the 2015 NBA draft.

The youngster, who hails from a remote village in Punjab and stands 7 feet 2 inches tall, was hoping to become the first player born on the subcontinent to make the league. Mavericks had invited India‘s biggest basketball hope, Satnam, for a pre-draft workout on Tuesday. It was the first time that the scouts of the Texas-based team witnessed the skills of the 290-pound Indian center. Confirming the development, Satnam had told TOI before boarding the flight to Dallas from Florida, “I am very excited to have a workout with Dallas Mavericks -one of the best and experienced team in the NBA. I will give my best and try to impress the selectors there.”

NBA History has been made! #SatnamSingh has been picked by @dallasmavs-NOW the 1st Indian national in the NBA. pic.twitter.com/wkR21OAP9j — NBAIndia (@NBAIndia) June 26, 2015

RT @Ananth_Pandian: First Indian to ever be drafted into the NBA – Satnam Singh https://t.co/1NmVwX4lCs – — Nathan (@Neshan_Nathan) June 26, 2015

Satnam’s young age, giant frame and relatively little pro-league experience in basketball make him an intriguing prospect. However, it’s Satnam’s size and ability to guard multiple positions which is believed to have attracted the Mavs scouts as being a prospective contributor to a team on the defensive side of the ball.