Dallas, July 9 (IANS): Dallas Mavericks welcomed a new era for basketball when 19-year-old Satnam Singh Bhamara was introduced as the first-ever Indian NBA Draft pick here.

Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle, newly hired Texas Legends head coach Nick Van Exel and Donnie Nelson (co-owner of Legends) once again reiterated the franchise's plan for Satnam to play in the NBA D-League in order to gain more experience. The Legends are affiliated with Mavericks.

"He will be with us in the Las Vegas Summer League but certainly a project that as he develops will continue to work underneath coach Carlisle, myself, Nick Van Exel and our coaching staff and develop eventually into an NBA player," Nelson said on Wednesday.

Satnam said that he's received many messages since being drafted as the No.52 pick and has been called so many times that his agent changed his phone number. "Now I'm just focused on my basketball. I have a great team, great coaches, great players and a great opportunity."

Head coach Carlisle also had words of praise for the seven feet, two inches player.

"The decision to basically make him a D-Leaguer initially is a very good decision and he understands, he likes it, he's willing to do it. He needs experience playing over here. Guys like this - this size and with the softness of his hands and his footwork - aren't grown on trees," Carlisle said.