Sim Bhullar

{{Infobox basketball biography

|name = Sim Bhullar

|image = 2022年12月10日 Sim Bhullar 桃園市政府.jpg

|caption = Sim Bhullar with the Hsinchu JKO Lioneers in 2022

|position = Center

|height_ft = 7

|height_in = 5

|weight_lb = 360

|league =

|team = Free agent

|number =

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1992|12|2}}

|birth_place = Toronto, Ontario, Canada

|highschool =

|college = New Mexico State (2012–2014)

|draft_year = 2014

|career_start = 2014

|years1 = 2014–2015

|team1 = Reno Bighorns

|years2 = {{nbay|2014|end}}

|team2 = Sacramento Kings

|years3 = 2015–2016

|team3 = Raptors 905

|years4 = 2016–2017

|team4 = Dacin Tigers

|years5 = 2017

|team5 = Guangxi Rhinos

|years6 = 2017–2018

|team6 = Dacin Tigers

|years7 = 2019

|team7 = Taipei Fubon Braves

|years8 = 2020

|team8 = Yulon Luxgen Dinos

|years9 = 2021–2022

|team9 = Hsinchu JKO Lioneers

|years10 = 2022–2024

|team10 = Tainan TSG GhostHawks

|highlights =

SBL champion (2017)
SBL Best Foreign Player of the year (2017)
NBA D-League All-Rookie Third Team (2015)
NBA D-League All-Defensive Second Team (2015)
2x WAC Tournament MVP (2013, 2014)
Third-team All-WAC (2013)
WAC All-Defensive Team (2014)
WAC Freshman of the Year (2013)

|medal_templates =

{{MedalCountry|{{CAN}}}}

}}

Gursimrana Singh "Sim" Bhullar (born December 2, 1992) is a Canadian professional basketball player who last played for the Tainan TSG GhostHawks of the T1 League. He played college basketball for New Mexico State University{{cite web|url=http://www.nmstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3791|title=#2 Sim Bhullar|work=nmstatesports.com|access-date=November 13, 2017}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2014/07/how-basketball-is-scoring-in-india/374835/|title=India, the Next Great Basketball Superpower|author=Sharda Ugra|date=July 22, 2014|work=The Atlantic|access-date=November 13, 2017}} and is the first player of Indian descent to play in the NBA.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/basketball/32214585|title=Sim Bhullar becomes NBA's first player of Indian descent|department=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC News|date=April 8, 2015|access-date=November 13, 2017}} At 7'5", he also became the sixth-tallest player in NBA history, being tied with Chuck Nevitt and Pavel Podkolzin for that record.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2015/04/08/gigantic-sim-bhullar-becomes-the-first-player-of-indian-descent-to-appear-in-an-nba-game/|author=Des Bieler|title=Gigantic Sim Bhullar becomes the first player of Indian descent to appear in an NBA game|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=April 8, 2015|access-date=November 13, 2017}}

High school career

Born in Toronto, Ontario, Bhullar grew up in Brampton{{cite news|last1=Brady|first1=Rachel|title=Towering Canadian brothers on track to make basketball history|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/basketball/towering-canadian-brothers-on-track-to-make-basketball-history/article17583897/|access-date=November 13, 2017|work=The Globe and Mail|date=March 19, 2014}} and attended Father Henry Carr Catholic Secondary School in Etobicoke, Toronto before moving to Saltsburg, Pennsylvania, to attend The Kiski School for the 2009–10 school year.{{cite news|title=Lineup suddenly shrinks for Kiski School|author=Mike White|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/high-school-basketball/2010/12/02/Lineup-suddenly-shrinks-for-Kiski-School/stories/201012020384|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=December 2, 2010|access-date=November 13, 2017}} That year, Bhullar averaged a near triple-double for the Twin Falls Idaho basketball team with 16 points, 14 rebounds, and 8 blocks per game. At the FIBA Americas Under-13 tournament in the summer of 2010, Bhullar impressed with his size and performance. In a loss to the United States, Bhullar came off the bench to record 14 points, four rebounds and three blocks.{{cite magazine|title=Behemoth Sim Bhullar a 7–4 showstopper at FIBA tourney|author=Luke Winn|url=https://www.si.com/more-sports/2010/07/01/sim-bhullar|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=July 1, 2010|access-date=November 13, 2017}}

At the end of November 2010, in the middle of Kiski's basketball season, Bhullar withdrew from Kiski and transferred to Huntington Prep School in West Virginia.{{cite news |title=Huntington Prep brings in 7–4 player|author=Grant Taylor|url=http://www.herald-dispatch.com/sports/high_school_sports/huntington-prep-brings-in---player/article_ccb684c0-3e69-5f57-9045-329f7d35a7a0.html|newspaper=The Herald-Dispatch|access-date=November 13, 2017}} At Huntington, Bhullar improved on his conditioning, dropping from {{convert|367|lb|0}} to {{convert|330|lb|0}}.{{cite news |title=So Much Potential, So Far to Go for Young Basketball Prospect |author=Pete Thamel |author-link=Pete Thamel |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/17/sports/basketball/sim-bhullar-could-be-asias-next-basketball-superstar.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=July 16, 2011|access-date=November 13, 2017}}

College career

Bhullar originally committed to playing for Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, but decommitted in August 2011 to play for the New Mexico State Aggies. He turned down Xavier because he learned he was not qualified to immediately play and would have to pay the full $42,000-a-year tuition, which his family refused to do.{{cite news|title=7-foot-5 Sim Bhullar to enroll at NMSU|author=Diamond Leung|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/34534/7-foot-5-sim-bhullar-to-enroll-at-nmsu|newspaper=ESPN.com|date=August 24, 2011|access-date=November 13, 2017}} Bhullar, however, was not able to play until the 2012–13 season because the NCAA denied him an eligibility waiver and rejected the school's appeal.{{cite news|title=Aggies working through growing pains|url=http://www.foxsportsarizona.com/12/15/11/Aggies-working-through-growing-pains/landing_nmsu.html?blockID=627306|newspaper=Fox Sports Arizona|publisher=archive.is|date=December 15, 2011|access-date=November 13, 2017|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120731025306/http://www.foxsportsarizona.com/12/15/11/Aggies-working-through-growing-pains/landing_nmsu.html?blockID=627306|archive-date=July 31, 2012}} His brother, Tanveer, joined the team for the 2013–14 season, although he redshirted his freshman year.

During his freshman season, Bhullar played 24.4 minutes per game, averaging 10.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game. In his sophomore season, he improved to 26.3 minutes per game, with 10.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 3.4 blocks per game.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/2596402/sim-bhullar|title=Sim Bhullar Stats, News, Videos, Highlights, Pictures, Bio – New Mexico State Aggies|publisher=ESPN|access-date=November 13, 2017}} He is a two-time WAC tournament MVP, winning the award in 2013 and 2014, where he also helped New Mexico State reach the NCAA tournament.{{cite web|url=http://bleacherreport.com/tb/dcTRY|title=Report: New Mexico State's Sim Bhullar to enter 2014 NBA Draft | CollegeBasketballTalk|work=Bleacher Report|author=Raphielle Johnson|date=April 16, 2014|access-date=November 13, 2017}}

In April 2014, Bhullar declared for the NBA draft, forgoing his final two years of college eligibility.{{cite news|url=http://collegebasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/04/16/report-new-mexico-states-sim-bhullar-to-enter-2014-nba-draft/|title=Report: New Mexico State's Sim Bhullar to enter 2014 NBA Draft | CollegeBasketballTalk|author=Raphielle Johnson|publisher=NBC Sports|date=April 16, 2014|access-date=November 13, 2017}}

Professional career

=Sacramento Kings / Reno Bighorns (2014–2015)=

After going undrafted in the 2014 NBA draft, Bhullar joined the Sacramento Kings for the 2014 NBA Summer League.{{cite news|url=http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-sports/ci_26047505/nmsu-basketball-sim-bhullar-invited-play-kings-summer|title=NMSU Basketball: Sim Bhullar invited to play for Sacramento Kings Summer League team|work=Las Cruces Sun-News|publisher=Lcsun-news.com|date=June 27, 2014|access-date=July 31, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140731204702/http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-sports/ci_26047505/nmsu-basketball-sim-bhullar-invited-play-kings-summer|archive-date=July 31, 2014|url-status=dead}} On August 14, 2014, he signed with the Kings, becoming the first player of Indian descent to sign with an NBA team.{{cite news|url=http://www.nba.com/kings/news/kings-sign-center-sim-bhullar|title=Kings Sign Center Sim Bhullar|work=NBA.com|date=August 14, 2014|access-date=November 13, 2017}} However, he was waived by the Kings on October 19 after appearing in two preseason games.[http://www.nba.com/kings/kings-waive-bhullar-burton-wear Kings Waive Bhullar, Burton, Wear] On November 2, 2014, he was acquired by the Reno Bighorns of the NBA Development League as an affiliate player of the Kings.[http://www.nba.com/dleague/reno/bighorns_finalize_training_cam_2014_11_02.html BIGHORNS FINALIZE TRAINING CAMP ROSTER AFTER D-LEAGUE DRAFT] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141106210413/http://www.nba.com/dleague/reno/bighorns_finalize_training_cam_2014_11_02.html |date=2014-11-06 }} Retrieved November 13, 2017. Bhullar made his D-League debut on December 6 and recorded four points, eight rebounds and six blocks in Reno's 141–140 loss to the Los Angeles D-Fenders.[http://dleague.nba.com/games/20141206/RNOLAD/ Heslip, Bighorns Fall In L.A.] Retrieved November 13, 2017.{{cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3-uw-w5Mi0|title=Sim Bhullar blocks six shots in his Reno Bighorns debut!|publisher=YouTube|date=December 6, 2014|access-date=November 13, 2017}} On February 22, 2015, he recorded his first career triple-double with 26 points, 17 rebounds and 11 blocked shots against the D-Fenders.[http://dleague.nba.com/games/20150222/LADRNO/ Bhullar Shines, But Bighorns Fall To D-Fenders] Retrieved November 13, 2017.

On April 2, 2015, Bhullar signed a 10-day contract with the Sacramento Kings.{{cite news|title=Kings Sign Sim Bhullar to a 10-Day Contract|url=http://www.nba.com/kings/new/kings-sign-sim-bhullar-to-10-day-contract|access-date=November 13, 2017|work=NBA.com|date=April 2, 2015}} Five days later, he made history when he checked in the fourth quarter for the final 16.1 seconds of the Kings' 116–111 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, becoming the first player of Indian descent to play in an NBA game.{{cite news|title=Kings hold off Timberwolves behind Casspi|url=http://www.nba.com/games/20150407/MINSAC/gameinfo.html|access-date=November 13, 2017|work=NBA.com|date=April 7, 2015}} He scored his first two points on April 8 in a 103–91 loss to the Utah Jazz.{{cite news|title=Jazz rally for 103–91 win over Kings, Favors scores 18|url=http://www.nba.com/games/20150408/SACUTA/gameinfo.html|access-date=November 13, 2017|work=NBA.com|date=April 8, 2015}} Bhullar was not retained by the Kings following the expiration of his 10-day contract.

In July 2015, Bhullar re-joined the Kings for the 2015 NBA Summer League.[http://www.nba.com/kings/blog/get-to-know-kings-summer-league-team Get To Know: Kings Summer League Team] After appearing in just one game for the Kings, Bhullar left the team in order to join the Canadian national team for the Pan Am Games.[http://www.kolotv.com/sports/headlines/Bighorns-Bhullar-to-Play-for-Team-Canada-312754671.html Bighorns' Bhullar to Play for Team Canada] Retrieved November 13, 2017.

=Raptors 905 (2015–2016)=

On October 31, 2015, Bhullar was acquired by Raptors 905 of the NBA Development League.{{cite news|url=http://raptors905.dleague.nba.com/news/raptors-905-announce-nba-d-league-drafts-results-training-camp-roster/|title=Raptors 905 Announce NBA D-League Drafts Results, Training Camp Roster|access-date=November 13, 2017}} In 39 games for Raptors 905 in 2015–16, he averaged 9.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.3 blocks per game.[https://www.basketball-reference.com/dleague/players/b/bhullsi01d.html Sim Bhullar D-League Stats] Basketball Reference Retrieved November 13, 2017.

=Dacin Tigers (2016–2017)=

On August 26, 2016, Bhullar signed with the Dacin Tigers of the Taiwanese Super Basketball League.{{cite web|title=Sim Bhullar is a newcomer at Dacin Tigers|url=http://www.asia-basket.com/Taiwan/news/460398/Sim-Bhullar-is-a-newcomer-at-Dacin-Tigers|work=Asia-Basket.com|date=August 26, 2016|access-date=November 13, 2017}}

=Guangxi Rhinos (2017)=

On April 27, 2017, Bhullar signed with Guangxi Rhinos of the National Basketball League, the second-tier league of China.{{cite web |title=Sim Bhullar inks with Guangxi in Chinese NBL |url=https://sportando.basketball/en/world/asia/233130/sim-bhullar-inks-with-guangxi-in-chinese-nbl.html |publisher=Sportando |access-date=July 25, 2018 |date=April 27, 2017}}

=Hsinchu JKO Lioneers (2021–2022)=

On October 22, 2021, Bhullar joined Hsinchu JKO Lioneers of the Taiwanese P. League+.{{cite news |author1=黃及人 |title=真正獅子王跳槽布拉改名「辛巴」加盟攻城獅 |url=https://www.chinatimes.com/realtimenews/20211022003727-260403?chdtv |accessdate=2021-10-22 |work=中國時報 |date=2021-10-22}}

=Tainan TSG GhostHawks (2022–2024)=

On December 16, 2022, Bhullar signed with Tainan TSG GhostHawks of the T1 League.{{cite news |title=才宣布離隊10分鐘布拉加盟獵鷹今晚將出戰「魔獸」霍華德 |url=https://sports.ltn.com.tw/news/breakingnews/4156493 |accessdate=December 16, 2022 |work=Liberty Times Net |date=December 16, 2022}} On August 7, 2023, Bhullar re-signed with the Tainan TSG GhostHawks.{{cite news |title=「台灣女婿」布拉回歸台鋼獵鷹洋將三塔還缺一 |url=https://sports.ltn.com.tw/news/breakingnews/4388744 |accessdate=August 7, 2023 |work=Liberty Times Net |date=August 7, 2023}} On March 9, 2024, the news reported that Tainan TSG GhostHawks cancelled the registration of Bhullar's playership.{{cite news |title=獵鷹選擇註銷布拉錢韋成：傷病問題一直存在 |url=https://tsna.com/article/85617 |accessdate=March 9, 2024 |work=TSNA |date=March 9, 2024}}

Career statistics

=College=

| style="text-align:left;"| 2012–13

| style="text-align:left;"| New Mexico State

| 35 || 26 || 24.4 || .621 || – || .465 || 6.7 || .7 || .1 || 2.4 || 10.1

| style="text-align:left;"| 2013–14

| style="text-align:left;"| New Mexico State

| 30 || 24 || 26.3 || .648 || – || .538 || 7.8 || 1.4 || .1 || 3.4 || 10.4

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career

| 65 || 50 || 25.3 || .633 || – || .496 || 7.2 || 1.0 || .1 || 2.9 || 10.2

=NBA=

| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2014|year=full}}

| style="text-align:left;"|Sacramento

| 3 || 0 || 1.0 || .500 || – || – || .3 || .3 || .0 || .3 || .7

National team career

Bhullar played for Canada in the 2010 FIBA Americas U18 Championship where he averaged 6.0 points and 3.8 rebounds in five games.[https://web.archive.org/web/20150412234633/http://turkey2010.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/player/p/pid/84739/pid2/78755/sid/4729/tid/257/tid2/385/_/2010_FIBA_Americas_U18_Championship_for_Men/index.html Sim Bhullar's profile | 2010 FIBA Americas U18 Championship] Retrieved November 13, 2017. Canada won the bronze medal after finishing with a 3–2 record.[https://web.archive.org/web/20110524035848/http://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/event/p/sid/4729/_/2010_FIBA_Americas_U18_Championship_for_Men/index.html 2010 FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Men] Retrieved November 13, 2017. Bhullar then played for Canada in the 2011 FIBA Under-19 World Championship. In six games, he averaged 12.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.[https://web.archive.org/web/20150413000711/http://turkey2010.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/player/p/pid/84739/pid2/78755/sid/5194/tid/257/tid2/385/_/2011_FIBA_U19_World_Championship/index.html Sim Bhullar's profile | 2011 FIBA U19 World Championship] Retrieved November 13, 2017. Canada finished in 11th place with a 3–5 record.[http://latvia2011.fiba.com/en 2011 FIBA U19 World Championship In Latvia] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150412233726/http://latvia2011.fiba.com/en |date=2015-04-12 }} Retrieved November 13, 2017.

Personal life

Bhullar's parents migrated to Canada from the state of Punjab in India. His father, Avtar, is {{convert|6|ft|4|in|cm}} and his mother, Varinder, is {{convert|5|ft|10|in|cm}}. Neither parent had exposure to basketball until enrolling their sons into local youth basketball programs. Avtar himself grew up only playing kabaddi, a traditional Indian contact sport. Bhullar has an older sister, Avneet, who played women’s college basketball Duke University from 2009-2012, and a younger brother, Tanveer, who stands at {{convert|7|ft|2|in|cm}} and played college basketball for both New Mexico State and, later, Missouri State.[http://www.nmstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=4637 New Mexico State Sim also had a Job At Dunkin Donuts as a Teen.Athletics]