key2thecup Posted June 12, 2014 Share Posted June 12, 2014 Toronto Raptors work out homegrown prospect Sim Bhullar, who hopes to become tallest active NBA player AP Photo/David BeckerCameras seem to gawk at Bhullar, the giant kid whose parents come to the Toronto area from the Punjab region of India in 1988. It can make for an uncomfortable environment. TORONTO — Nearly every NBA prospect gets asked the question: Which player do you compare your game to? Nearly every NBA prospect deftly avoids the inquiry, saying he is very much his own player. He is not the next fill in the blank. He is the first fill in the blank. When Sim Bhullar said the same thing on Wednesday, there was no eye rolling from the pack of reporters that surrounded him. You only had to look at Bhullar — well, look down at Bhullar, who was sitting down to accommodate the masses, as he is 7-foot-5 — to understand why. For so many Canadian NBA prospects, it is their nationality that emerges as their defining characteristic, at least until the world sees a little more of their games. With Bhullar, it is a footnote. Cameras seem to gawk at Bhullar, the giant kid whose parents come to the Toronto area from the Punjab region of India in 1988. It can make for an uncomfortable environment. “I’m used to the attention, the pictures, being stopped all the time,” Bhullar said before he worked out for his hometown Toronto Raptors on Wednesday. “It’s become an everyday thing for me.” That towering height is the primary reason he is in this position, though: It is a fundamental truth that is danced around, at least in his presence. If he were to be drafted on June 26 — which currently seems unlikely, but possible — he would become the tallest active player in the league. Only four men who have ever played an NBA game have been taller. AP Photo/David BeckerBhullar will have to show that he is agile enough to contain guards in a pick-and-roll scenario to stick in the league. Now, it is about moving beyond that. Bhullar blocked 3.3 shots per game in his second and final season at New Mexico State University. In college, though, he could camp out in the paint as long as he liked. In the NBA, his mobility will be tested, both because of the different rules and the different style of play. “Pick-and-roll has become such a huge part of the NBA now,” Raptors director of scouting, Dan Tolzman, said. “It’s always been, but it seems like every team is kind of going that way. Defending that is such a key part of centres. It’s an important thing.” Tolzman added that the transformation, de-emphasizing the traditional, rim-protecting big man in today’s game, has perhaps been overstated. However, Bhullar will have to show that he is agile enough to contain guards in a pick-and-roll scenario to stick in the league. Bhullar said he has dropped 16 pounds since the end of the season, which would put him at about 345. Still, Wednesday was his first workout for a team. He used the early part of the draft process to improve his conditioning, but the lack of teams curious to see him up close underlines exactly what issues will dog him even if he is drafted. He is going to have to continue to prove he is more than just a space-eater. Peter J. Thompson/National PostIf he were to be drafted on June 26 — which currently seems unlikely, but possible — he would become the tallest active player in the league. If he and his brother, Tanveer — two years younger and two inches shorter than Sim, also at New Mexico State — can make the NBA, they would be the first players of Indian and Sikh descent to make the league. Bhullar fielded a few questions about his potential impact, some that compared his potential influence in India to Yao Ming. The comparison felt at once absurd and plausible. Bhullar answered the questions reasonably and optimistically. The reality is that there are a lot of basic basketball concerns to address before he can begin to tackle more worldly matters. “It’s definitely tough. From being a big guy, out of shape, overweight to getting where I’m at right now [is huge progress],” Bhullar said. “There are days where you want to quit. But you know if you want to make it this far and get to the ultimate goal, you have to keep grinding.” Indeed, Bhullar is in a unique position. Then again, he always has been. http://sports.nationalpost.com/2014/06/11/toronto-raptors-work-out-homegrown-prospect-sim-bhullar-who-hopes-to-become-tallest-active-nba-player/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Puck'nAnimal Posted June 12, 2014 Share Posted June 12, 2014 Is it just me or does Bullar look like an Indo-Canadian Bryant "Big Country" Reeves. Let's hope he has the skill-set needed to get somewhere in the league. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themcdeal Posted June 12, 2014 Share Posted June 12, 2014 Is it just me or does Bullar look like an Indo-Canadian Bryant "Big Country" Reeves. Let's hope he has the skill-set needed to get somewhere in the league. lol he kinda does tall and unathletic Good luck to him though, It would be good for all the young indo canadian basketball players to see Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharnhayre Posted June 12, 2014 Share Posted June 12, 2014 Is it just me or does Bullar look like an Indo-Canadian Bryant "Big Country" Reeves. Let's hope he has the skill-set needed to get somewhere in the league. Lol never thought of that until now. I totally see it though! Sam has alot of work to do to make it in the NBA in my opinion. He is a huge body, but to be honest.. thats it. He isn't very mobile and isn't that quick and light on his feet. He will be a wall in the paint where he spends most of his time. I see a problem with him getting up and down the court and making an impact especially at how fast and agile players are in the NBA. As a fellow indo-canadian. I wish him all the best and hopes he will get drafted but I don't think he will. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mathew Barzal Posted June 12, 2014 Share Posted June 12, 2014 He's never going to make it, way too slow and non-athletic. He has one year to shape up in a BIG way, which isn't going to happen if it hasn't already. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tappa Posted June 12, 2014 Share Posted June 12, 2014 Big deal. Why do these "first" matter at all? An why should we be surprised that some freak of nature has made the NBA? I'd be more impressed if he was 5'2". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aGENT Posted June 12, 2014 Share Posted June 12, 2014 He looks out of shape.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tangelos Posted June 12, 2014 Share Posted June 12, 2014 He looks out of shape.... Most basket ball players do. Have you seen chris bosh? Give the man something to eat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aGENT Posted June 12, 2014 Share Posted June 12, 2014 Most basket ball players do. Have you seen chris bosh? Give the man something to eat Bosh is skinny but he at least looks fit. This kid looks like a tall pile of mashed potatoes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Sestito Posted June 12, 2014 Share Posted June 12, 2014 He has no chance, and I don't think he'll get drafted either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gross-Misconduct Posted June 12, 2014 Share Posted June 12, 2014 Most basket ball players do. Have you seen chris bosh? Give the man something to eat You don't watch much basketball do you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadcanucks Posted June 12, 2014 Share Posted June 12, 2014 Is it just me or does Bullar look like an Indo-Canadian Bryant "Big Country" Reeves. Let's hope he has the skill-set needed to get somewhere in the league. Sort of my first initial thought... Hope the kid can give himself a legit shot at making the pros. Would make for a great story...son of immigrant parents making it in the bigs...who doesn't like a story like that? So, his "little brother" is 7'3"...can you imagine the grocery bill in his household? Yikes. My friends in Ottawa told me stories of Zdeno Chara eating up to 3 x 16 ounce New York Strips at the Baton Rouge next to the Scotiabank Centre in Kanata...and he's "only" 6'8" and 255 lbs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jägermeister Posted June 12, 2014 Share Posted June 12, 2014 Being 7'5 would freaking suck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nazzybertjovo Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 Being 7'5 would freaking suck. Not if you made it to the NBA, played 3-4 years and never had to work again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jägermeister Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 Not if you made it to the NBA, played 3-4 years and never had to work again I would still rather not. So many routine activities would be a struggle or impossible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gurn Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 "As a fellow indo-canadian. I wish him all the best and hopes he will get drafted but I don't think he will."As a fellow Canadian, that happens to be Caucasian, I too wish him all the best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raoul Duke Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 KInda reminded me of the greatest WWE superstar of all-time, Giant Gonzalez... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gross-Misconduct Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 I would still rather not. So many routine activities would be a struggle or impossible. Did you ever think abouta whatta you going to do on the toilet? Whatta you going to do on the toilet?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buggernut Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 Lol never thought of that until now. I totally see it though! Sam has alot of work to do to make it in the NBA in my opinion. He is a huge body, but to be honest.. thats it. He isn't very mobile and isn't that quick and light on his feet. He will be a wall in the paint where he spends most of his time. I see a problem with him getting up and down the court and making an impact especially at how fast and agile players are in the NBA. As a fellow indo-canadian. I wish him all the best and hopes he will get drafted but I don't think he will. His prospects might improve if he lost some weight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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