India's Satnam Singh Bhamara is hoping his historic selection in the NBA will kickstart a basketball boom in his cricket-obsessed home country.
The 19-year-old centre admitted he was incredibly nervous in the run up to the NBA Draft, which saw him become the first India-born selection when he was chosen by the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday.
"Forget about sleep, I haven't eaten even a morsel. I was certainly hopeful after coming this far but there is always a big if," said Bhamara, who hails from a family of farmers.
The 7-foot-2-inch (2.18m) Bhamara, originally from a village in northern Punjab state, is hoping he can generate enthusiasm for the sport in India -- in much the same way that superstar Yao Ming sparked a basketball frenzy in China.