NBA Players from Cuba: Full List (2026)
2 NBA players have come from Cuba, by Wikipedia’s count. As of October 2026, none is on an NBA roster. The most recent was Lazaro Borrell (1999-00).
NBA players from Cuba at a glance
| NBA players, all time | 2 (Wikipedia count) |
|---|---|
| On NBA rosters, October 2026 | None |
| First to play in the NBA | Andrés Guibert (1994) |
| Longest NBA career | Andrés Guibert (2 seasons) |
| Centers | 1: Andrés Guibert |
| 7-foot prospects in our database | None right now |
| Last checked | 9 October 2026 |
Every NBA player from Cuba
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrés Guibert | Forward/center | 1994-1995 | Former player | |
| Lazaro Borrell | Forward | 1999-00 | Former player |
Players from Cuba in the NBA in 2026-27
No player from Cuba is on an NBA roster as of October 2026.
NBA centers from Cuba
1 of the 2 players in the table played center or forward/center: Andrés Guibert (1994-1995).
7-Foot Prospects from Cuba
No active player from Cuba 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 2018. Teams and career details in it are as of that time; the tables above show where things stand in October 2026.
Cuba has a long-standing tradition in basketball, much longer than the other countries in the Caribbean region. The Cuba national basketball team finished third at the ‘72 Summer Olympic Games and as fourth at the ‘74 FIBA World Cup. No other Caribbean national basketball team has ever succeeded at winning a medal at a global event as Cuba has.
Cuba NBA Players:
Andrés Guibert
Guibert was born on October 28, 1968, in Havana. He stands at 6 ft. 10 in. and played as a power forward and a center. During the 1993 Centrobasket tournament, he defected to the United States.
During his tenure in the NBA (1993-1995) he played for the Minnesota Timberwolves. In 1995, he was picked up by the Toronto Raptors, but he didn’t get to play for them as his contract was waived before the start of the regular season.
His next stop was Europe. He played for some clubs in the national leagues of Greece and Italy.
Lazaro Borrell
Borrell was born in Cuba on Sept 20, 1972. He is 6 ft. 8 in. tall and played as forward. Before NBA, he played in the Cuban basketball league for Lobos De Villa Clara.
He went into NBA undrafted and played only one season (1999-2000) for the Seattle Supersonics. In the next season, he signed a one year contract with the La Crosse Bobcats that were competing in the CBA league. After that ended, he moved to South America where he played for various clubs in Argentina.
As of now, there are no blue chip NBA prospects coming out of Italy, but it remains to be seen if Cuba can produce future NBA talent from its basketball pipeline.
Frequently asked questions
How many NBA players are from Cuba?
Wikipedia counts 2.
Which players from Cuba are in the NBA in 2026-27?
None as of October 2026. The most recent was Lazaro Borrell (1999-00).
Who was the first NBA player from Cuba?
Andrés Guibert, who debuted in 1994.
Which centers from Cuba have played in the NBA?
Andrés Guibert.
Are there 7-foot prospects from Cuba?
Not right now. Our 7-Foot Prospect Database has no active player from Cuba 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 Cuba may be missing from the table. Last checked 9 October 2026.
