The Sacramento Kings signed Sim Bhullar to a 10-day contract Thursday, establishing the 7-foot-5 center as the first player of Indian descent in league history.
Bhullar has spent the entire season with the Reno Bighorns, Sacramento's affiliate in the NBA Development League, after going to training camp with the Kings.
"He adds a very interesting dimension to the game," Kings coach George Karl said of Bhullar. "And our game is becoming an international game and India is becoming one of the greatest, largest, biggest democracies in the world. I think it's a good story and hopefully we'll find some minutes for him."
Conditioning has been a question mark in terms of Bhullar establishing a legitimate NBA future. But he has a major supporter in Kings owner Vivek Ranadive -- one of India's most celebrated businessmen -- and Bhullar has shed more than 30 pounds over the course of his rookie campaign after weighing in at more than 400 pounds during summer league play with Sacramento last July.
Bhullar is averaging 10.3 points, 8.8 rebounds and 3.9 blocks in the D-League this season and, as evidence of his improving conditioning, logged 38 minutes Tuesday night in a Reno victory over Bakersfield, totaling 19 points, 15 boards and five blocks.
Karl said his son plays for the same D-League team as Bhullar.
The 22-year-old is expected to replace David Wear on the Kings' roster after Wear received a 10-day call-up from the Kings. Reno point guard David Stockton, son of the legendary John Stockton, is another recent Kings call-up from the Bighorns, who have sent a D-League-high five players to the NBA this season with their freewheeling offense under first-year coach David Arseneault.
Raised in Canada by Indian-born parents, Bhullar went undrafted out of New Mexico State after playing in AAU ball in Toronto with Canada's two recent No. 1 overall picks, Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett.
ESPN.com's Calvin Watkins contributed to this report.
