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What Sim Bhullar means to the Kings and the NBA

By Dan Fappiano

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On April 2nd, 2015, a legend was brought up to the NBA. This legend is, of course, Sim Bhullar. Standing at a massive 7’5″, and with a rare basketball weight of 370 pounds, Bhullar looks as if he should be competing in WrestleMania rather than guarding the paint.

Bhullar is the second heaviest player to play in the NBA, behind only the also-massive Oliver Miller, who played at 375 lbs. In turn, standing 7’5″ makes him tied for 4th on the all-time NBA height list, behind well-known, Gheorghe Muresan, Manute Bol, Yao Ming, and Shawn Bradley, and the not-so-well known Slavko Vranes. While Bhullar’s size alone makes him an intriguing player, he means a lot more to the Kings and the NBA than just an imposing figure.

While 10-day contract players usually fall by the wayside when there time is up, Bhullar is a different kind of 10-day contract, who will better the Sacramento Kings and the NBA to close out this season and beyond.

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Bhullar played his college ball at New Mexico State University, where he spent two years and had moderate success. Bhullar was a two-time WAC-Tournament MVP, and he was voted All-WAC Freshman of the Year in 2013. In 2014, Sim was not only the WAC Tournament Most Outstanding Player, but he was voted to the WAC All-Defensive Team.

Bhullar’s New Mexico State Aggies made the NCAA Tournament both years, with Bhullar averaging 10.2 points per game, 7.2 rebounds per game, and a ridiculous 2.9 blocks per game. Despite the valiant effort Bhullar’s Aggies were eliminated in the Round of 64 both years.

Despite having moderate success in his college years, Bhullar still decided to forgo his final two years of eligibility and enter the 2014 NBA draft. Despite intrigue due to his massive size, Bhullar still went undrafted. Bhullar played for the Kings’ Summer League team before signing a deal with the Kings. However, before the season started, he was waived.

He was then acquired by the Kings’ D-League affiliate, the Reno Bighorns, where he has played all season until his big league call-up. In the D-League, Bhullar has compiled stats similar to his college ones, averaging 10.3 PPG, 8.8 RPG, and an even more ridiculous 3.9 BPG.

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So why does this matter? Why does Bhullar matter? It is for two main reasons.

For starters, Bhullar broke boundaries as becoming the first Indian-born man to sign an NBA contract, and he will now become the first Indian-born man to play in the NBA. The NBA has been for years trying to connect with fans abroad. This is evident by having the “Latin Nights” portion of the schedule. For the past nine seasons, the NBA has been trying to connect with its Latin American and U.S. Hispanic communities by providing a portion schedule dedicated to their culture.

Many jerseys around the league will say the team’s name in Spanish rather than English. This season, the NBA ushered in the celebration of the Chinese New Year within the association. Many teams were given custom Chinese New Year jerseys, along with games being telecasted to Greater China. With Bhullar’s entrance in the NBA, the league can use it as a stepping stone to reach Indian-born fans.

"“No matter what level he rises to, Bhullar is poised to become the world’s first prominent men’s basketball player of Indian descent.”- Pete Thamel, New York Times"

The Kings have become the melting pot of the NBA, as they also roster Omri Casspi, who was the first player of Israeli descent to play in an NBA game. While the NBA did not capitalize on Casspi’s entrance the league, if the league made a big deal out of Bhullar’s entrance, they could better connect with the fans of the NBA of Indian descent. Bhullar’s debut in the NBA will mark another broken barrier in the league, and could provide a gateway for more Indian fans and players in the NBA.

Secondly, for the Kings, Bhullar provides reason for excitement in Sacramento for the closing days of the season and beyond. With the 2014-15 season winding down, it marks another year of Kings’ fans missing the playoffs, and looking forward to the free agency/draft.

Bringing in Bhullar gives Kings fans a reason to attend games and a reason to care about the Kings. A 7’5″ 370-pound basketball player doesn’t happen very often, so to say he played for your team is a win in itself. Bhullar is only the eighth player in NBA history to stand 7’5″ or taller. He is a spectacle, not like a freakshow at a circus, but being able to say that you saw Bhullar play is a huge accomplishment. The last time a player over 7’4″ played in a game was 2011 when Yao Ming played for the Rockets.

Bhullar also had relative success in the D-League. If Bhullar were to succeed in the NBA, he could potentially become the first 7’3″ or taller to average 10+ points, 7+ rebounds, and 2+ blocks per game.

While Bhullar will be limited to the bench to start the season, coach George Karl has stated he may bench DeMarcus Cousins down the stretch. If Karl indeed decided to bench Cousins, Bhullar will be given more playing time to prove his worth in the NBA.

Bhullar was able to average 10+ points 8+ rebounds and 3+ blocks per game in the D-League. Those feats have never been reached by a player taller than 7’3″, with Ming being the closest with averages of 19+ points, 9+ rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game. While Bhullar would have to have a long career to reach Ming or even Bol level, Bhullar’s entrance in the league lets him at least throw his name into the conversation. Bhullar provides a spectacle for Kings fans to get excited about, but if Sim was able to succeed he would cause much more excitement in Sacramento.

Bhullar is of a different breed. He is not your typical basketball player. A player signed to a 10-day contract is usually an afterthought once his days are done. Bhullar is much different. His entrance into the league will spur the “Bhullar Era”. Once Bhullar enters, the behemoth will become more than just a myth. Bhullar will change the NBA for the better and provide the Kings with a spectacle at least for the rest of the season. Be on the lookout, Bhullar is coming.

Next: What Does Chris Mullin's Departure Mean for Sacramento?

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