NBA Players from Bulgaria: Full List (2026)
2 NBA players have come from Bulgaria, by Wikipedia’s count (including 1 foreign-born Bulgarian). As of October 2026, none is on an NBA roster. The most recent was Sasha Vezenkov (2023-24).
NBA players from Bulgaria at a glance
| NBA players, all time | 2 (Wikipedia count) |
|---|---|
| On NBA rosters, October 2026 | None |
| First to play in the NBA | Georgi Glouchkov (1985) |
| Centers | None yet |
| 7-foot prospects in our database | None right now |
| Last checked | 9 October 2026 |
Every NBA player from Bulgaria
Sorted by NBA debut, earliest first. Status is as of October 2026, before the 2026-27 regular season, so it includes players on training camp deals.
| Player | Position | NBA seasons | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgi Glouchkov | Forward | 1985-86 | Former player | |
| Sasha Vezenkov | Forward | 2023-24 | Former player | Born in Cyprus |
Every NBA career from Bulgaria, year by year
First to last NBA season for each player. Orange means on an NBA roster in 2026-27.
First seasonLast season
Show the data behind this chart
Player
Position
NBA seasons
Status
Georgi Glouchkov
Forward
1985-86
Former player
Sasha Vezenkov
Forward
2023-24
Former player
Players from Bulgaria in the NBA in 2026-27
No player from Bulgaria is on an NBA roster as of October 2026.
NBA centers from Bulgaria
No player from Bulgaria has played center in the NBA so far.
7-Foot Prospects from Bulgaria
No active player from Bulgaria listed at 7 feet or taller and born in 2001 or later is in our 7-Foot Prospect Database right now (last checked on 9 October 2026). The database tracks nearly 400 young 7-footers from 61 countries, and we add new names as they appear.
Player profiles from our archive
This section was first published in 2024. Teams and career details in it are as of that time; the tables above show where things stand in October 2026.
Bulgaria is not known for its NBA pedigree. The country’s best basketball results came long ago: a Balkan Championship in 1950 and second place at the 1957 EuroBasket.
Aleksandar Vezenkov
Sasha Vezenkov is the best Bulgarian player of his generation. A forward born in Cyprus to Bulgarian parents, he played for FC Barcelona and Olympiacos and was named EuroLeague MVP in 2023. He had been drafted back in 2017, late in the second round, and finally came over for the 2023-24 season with the Sacramento Kings. He played 42 games, mostly off the bench, and returned to Olympiacos the following summer.
Georgi Glouchkov
Glouchkov was the first Bulgarian in the NBA, and the first player from an Eastern Bloc country to play in the league. The Phoenix Suns signed him for the 1985-86 season. He was a strong rebounder, but he lasted only one year before going back to Europe.
Priest Lauderdale
Lauderdale was born in Chicago and stood 7’4″. The Atlanta Hawks drafted him in the first round in 1996, and he played one season there and one with the Denver Nuggets. He later took Bulgarian citizenship while playing club basketball in the country and appeared for the Bulgarian national team.
Cedric Simmons
Simmons is also American by birth. The New Orleans Hornets took him 15th in the 2006 draft, and he played for the Hornets, the Cavaliers and the Bulls through 2009. He got a Bulgarian passport later in his career and played for Bulgaria in international competition, which is why he is on this list.
How Bulgaria compares with other small basketball countries
NBA players all time: the eight leaders among the 46 countries we compared, and Bulgaria.
Show the data behind this chart
Country
NBA players, all time
Nigeria
30
Lithuania
17
Italy
14
Montenegro
10
Bahamas
9
Cameroon
8
Congo
8
Israel
8
Bulgaria
2
Frequently asked questions
How many NBA players are from Bulgaria?
Wikipedia counts 2 (including 1 foreign-born Bulgarian).
Which players from Bulgaria are in the NBA in 2026-27?
None as of October 2026. The most recent was Sasha Vezenkov (2023-24).
Who was the first NBA player from Bulgaria?
Georgi Glouchkov, who debuted in 1985.
Which centers from Bulgaria have played in the NBA?
None so far.
Are there 7-foot prospects from Bulgaria?
Not right now. Our 7-Foot Prospect Database has no active player from Bulgaria listed at 7 feet or taller and born in 2001 or later.
More guides: NBA players by country. Scouting reports: NBA center prospects.
Sources: Wikipedia, List of NBA players born outside the United States (revision of 3 October 2026); RealGM NBA player list (9 October 2026); Low Key NBA 7-Foot Prospect Database. U.S.-born players with family ties to Bulgaria may be missing from the table. Last checked 9 October 2026.
