MatthewEbner: expand layout to improve readability and added references

2026-03-11T19:22:41Z

expand layout to improve readability and added references

Rajbhai7: Sim Bhullar

2023-09-12T14:18:46Z

Sim Bhullar

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{{short description|Canadian basketball player}}
{{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 (basketball)|Center]]
|height_ft = 7
|height_in = 5
|weight_lb = 360
|league = [[T1 League]]
|team = Tainan TSG GhostHawks
|number = 35
|nationality = Canadian
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1992|12|2}}
|birth_place = [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]]
|highschool =
*[[The Kiski School]]<br />([[Saltsburg, Pennsylvania]])
*[[Huntington Prep School]]<br />([[Huntington, West Virginia]])
|college = [[New Mexico State Aggies men's basketball|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 Rhino]]
|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–present
|team10 = [[Tainan TSG GhostHawks]]
|highlights =
*[[Super Basketball League|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)
*Third-team All-[[Western Athletic Conference|WAC]] (2013)
*WAC All-Newcomer Team (2013)
*WAC All-Defensive Team (2014)
*WAC Freshman of the Year (2013)
*[[WAC men's basketball tournament|WAC tournament]] MOP ([[2014 WAC men's basketball tournament|2014]])
|medal_templates =
{{MedalCountry|{{CAN}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Pan American Games]]}}
{{MedalSilver|[[Basketball at the 2015 Pan American Games|2015 Toronto]]|[[Canada men's national basketball team|National team]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship|FIBA Americas U18 Championship]]}}
{{MedalBronze|[[FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship|2010 San Antonio]]|[[Canada men's national basketball team|National team]]}}
}}
'''Gursimran Singh "Sim" Bhullar''' (born December 2, 1992) is a Canadian professional [[basketball]] player for the [[Tainan TSG GhostHawks]] of the [[T1 League]]. He played [[college basketball]] for [[New Mexico State University]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nmstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3791|title=#2 Sim Bhullar|work=nmstatesports.com|access-date=November 13, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Atlantic2014-07-22">{{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}}</ref> and is the first player of [[Indo-Canadians|Indian descent]] to play in the NBA.<ref>{{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}}</ref> At 7'5", he also became the [[List of tallest players in National Basketball Association history|sixth-tallest player in NBA history]], being tied with [[Chuck Nevitt]], [[Victor Wembanyama]] and [[Pavel Podkolzin]] for that record.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

==High school career==
Born in [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]], Bhullar grew up in [[Brampton]]<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref name=ppg>{{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}}</ref> That year, Bhullar averaged a near [[triple-double]] for the Kiski basketball team with 16 points, 14 rebounds, and eight blocks per game. At the FIBA Americas Under-18 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.<ref name=si>{{cite news|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|work=Sports Illustrated|date=July 1, 2010|access-date=November 13, 2017}}</ref>

At the end of November 2010, in the middle of Kiski's basketball season, Bhullar withdrew from Kiski<ref name=ppg/> and transferred to [[Huntington Prep School]] in [[West Virginia]].<ref>{{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}}</ref> At Huntington, Bhullar improved on his conditioning, dropping from {{convert|367|lb|0}} to {{convert|330|lb|0}}.<ref name=nyt>{{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}}</ref>

==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 men's basketball|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.<ref>{{cite news|title=7-foot-5 Sim Bhullar to enroll at NMSU|author=Diamond Leung|url=http://espn.go.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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> His brother, Tanveer, joined the team for the [[2013–14 New Mexico State Aggies men's basketball team|2013–14 season]], although he [[Redshirt (college sports)|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/57794/sim-bhullar|title=Sim Bhullar Stats, News, Videos, Highlights, Pictures, Bio – New Mexico State Aggies|publisher=ESPN|access-date=November 13, 2017}}</ref> He is a two-time [[Western Athletic Conference|WAC]] tournament MVP, winning the award in 2013 and 2014, where he also helped New Mexico State reach the [[NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA tournament]].<ref>{{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}}</ref>

In April 2014, Bhullar declared for the NBA draft, forgoing his final two years of college eligibility.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

==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]].<ref>{{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}}</ref> On August 14, 2014, he signed with the Kings, becoming the first player of [[Non-resident Indian and person of Indian origin|Indian]] descent to sign with an NBA team.<ref>{{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}}</ref> However, he was waived by the Kings on October 19 after appearing in two preseason games.<ref>[http://www.nba.com/kings/kings-waive-bhullar-burton-wear Kings Waive Bhullar, Burton, Wear]</ref> On November 2, 2014, he was acquired by the [[Reno Bighorns]] of the [[NBA Development League]] as an affiliate player of the Kings.<ref>[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.</ref> 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]].<ref>[http://dleague.nba.com/games/20141206/RNOLAD/ Heslip, Bighorns Fall In L.A.] Retrieved November 13, 2017.</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> On February 22, 2015, he recorded his first career triple-double with 26 points, 17 rebounds and 11 blocked shots against the D-Fenders.<ref>[http://dleague.nba.com/games/20150222/LADRNO/ Bhullar Shines, But Bighorns Fall To D-Fenders] Retrieved November 13, 2017.</ref>

On April 2, 2015, Bhullar signed a 10-day contract with the Sacramento Kings.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> He scored his first two points on April 8 in a 103–91 loss to the [[Utah Jazz]].<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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]].<ref>[http://www.nba.com/kings/blog/get-to-know-kings-summer-league-team Get To Know: Kings Summer League Team]</ref> After appearing in just one game for the Kings, Bhullar left the team in order to join the Canadian national team for the [[2015 Pan American Games|Pan Am Games]].<ref>[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.</ref>

===Raptors 905 (2015–2016)===
On October 31, 2015, Bhullar was acquired by [[Raptors 905]] of the [[NBA Development League]].<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>[https://www.basketball-reference.com/dleague/players/b/bhullsi01d.html Sim Bhullar D-League Stats] Basketball Reference Retrieved November 13, 2017.</ref>

===Dacin Tigers (2016–2017)===
On August 26, 2016, Bhullar signed with the [[Dacin Tigers]] of the Taiwanese [[Super Basketball League]].<ref>{{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}}</ref>

===Guangxi Rhino (2017)===
On April 27, 2017, Bhullar signed with Guangxi Rhino of the [[National Basketball League (China)|National Basketball League]], the second-tier league of China.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

===Hsinchu JKO Lioneers (2021–2022)===
On October 22, 2021, Bhullar joined [[Hsinchu JKO Lioneers]] of the Taiwanese [[P. League+]].<ref>{{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}}</ref>

===Tainan TSG GhostHawks (2022–present)===
On December 16, 2022, Bhullar signed with [[Tainan TSG GhostHawks]] of the [[T1 League]].<ref>{{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}}</ref> On August 7, 2023, Bhullar re-signed with the [[Tainan TSG GhostHawks]].<ref>{{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}}</ref>

==Career statistics==

=== NBA ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Season
! Team
! G
! GS
! MP
! FG%
! 3P%
! FT%
! TRB
! AST
! STL
! BLK
! PTS
|-
| {{nbay|2014|year=full}}
| [[2014–15 Sacramento Kings season|Sacramento]]
| 3
| 0
| 1.0
| .500
|
|
| 0.3
| 0.3
| 0.0
| 0.3
| 0.7
|-
| Career
|
| 3
| 0
| 1.0
| .500
|
|
| 0.3
| 0.3
| 0.0
| 0.3
| 0.7
|}

==National team career==
Bhullar played for Canada in the [[FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship|2010 FIBA Americas U18 Championship]] where he averaged 6.0 points and 3.8 rebounds in five games.<ref>[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.</ref> Canada won the bronze medal after finishing with a 3–2 record.<ref>[https://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.</ref> 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.<ref>[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.</ref> Canada finished in 11th place with a 3–5 record.<ref>[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.</ref>

==Personal life==
Bhullar's parents migrated to Canada from the [[States and union territories of India|state]] of [[Punjab, India|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]].<ref name="si"/> Bhullar has an older sister, Avneet, 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 Bears basketball|Missouri State]].<ref>[http://www.nmstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=4637 New Mexico State Sim also had a Job At Dunkin Donuts as a Teen.Athletics]</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of tallest players in National Basketball Association history]]
*[[List of Canadians in the National Basketball Association]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{basketballstats|bbr=b/bhullsi01}}
*[http://stats.nbadleague.com/player/#!/204021/ NBA D-League profile]
*[http://www.nmstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3791 New Mexico bio]

{{Canada Men Basketball Squad 2015 Pan American Games}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bhullar, Sim}}
[[Category:1992 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:ASEAN Basketball League players]]
[[Category:Basketball players at the 2015 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Basketball players from Punjab, India]]
[[Category:Basketball players from Toronto]]
[[Category:Canadian expatriate basketball people in Taiwan]]
[[Category:Canadian expatriate basketball people in the United States]]
[[Category:Canadian men's basketball players]]
[[Category:Canadian people of Punjabi descent]]
[[Category:Canadian Sikhs]]
[[Category:Canadian sportspeople of Indian descent]]
[[Category:Centers (basketball)]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2015 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:New Mexico State Aggies men's basketball players]]
[[Category:Pan American Games medalists in basketball]]
[[Category:Pan American Games silver medalists for Canada]]
[[Category:Raptors 905 players]]
[[Category:Reno Bighorns players]]
[[Category:Sacramento Kings players]]
[[Category:Undrafted National Basketball Association players]]
[[Category:Hsinchu JKO Lioneers players]]
[[Category:Yulon Luxgen Dinos players]]
[[Category:Dacin Tigers players]]
[[Category:Super Basketball League imports]]
[[Category:P. League+ imports]]
[[Category:Tainan TSG GhostHawks players]]
[[Category:T1 League imports]]

Sim Bhullar - Revision history

MatthewEbner: expand layout to improve readability and added references

Rajbhai7: Sim Bhullar