NBA Players from Montenegro: Full List (2026)
10 NBA players have come from Montenegro, by Wikipedia’s count (including 5 foreign-born Montenegrins). Our table below names 12: players born outside the United States with a tie to Montenegro, plus current players listed with its nationality. As of October 2026, 2 are on an NBA roster: Nikola Vučević (Orlando Magic) and Javonte Green (Detroit Pistons).
NBA players from Montenegro at a glance
| NBA players, all time | 10 (Wikipedia count); 12 named in our table |
|---|---|
| On NBA rosters, October 2026 | 2: Nikola Vučević, Javonte Green |
| First to play in the NBA | Žarko Paspalj (1989) |
| Longest NBA career | Nikola Vučević (15 seasons) |
| Centers | 6: Predrag Drobnjak, Aleksandar Radojević, Slavko Vraneš, Nikola Peković, Nikola Vučević, Marko Simonović |
| 7-foot prospects in our database | 3 (see them) |
| Last checked | 9 October 2026 |
Every NBA player from Montenegro
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Žarko Paspalj | Forward | 1989-90 | Former player | Born in Montenegro; listed under Serbia |
| Predrag Drobnjak | Center | 2001-2005 | Former player | Born in Yugoslavia |
| Predrag Savović | Guard | 2002-03 | Former player | Born in Yugoslavia |
| Sasha Pavlović | Guard/forward | 2003-2013 | Former player | Born in Montenegro; listed under Serbia |
| Žarko Čabarkapa | Forward | 2003-2006 | Former player | Born in Yugoslavia |
| Aleksandar Radojević | Center | 1999-2005 | Former player | Born in Montenegro; listed under Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Slavko Vraneš | Center | 2003-04 | Former player | Born in Yugoslavia |
| Nikola Peković | Center | 2010-2016 | Former player | Born in Yugoslavia |
| Nikola Vučević | Center | 2011 to present | Orlando Magic | Born in Switzerland |
| Nikola Mirotić | Forward | 2014-2019 | Former player | Born in Montenegro; listed under Spain |
| Javonte Green | Guard | 2019 to present | Detroit Pistons | Also listed with the United States nationality |
| Marko Simonović | Forward/center | 2021-2023 | Former player | Born in Yugoslavia |
Every NBA career from Montenegro, 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
Žarko Paspalj
Forward
1989-90
Former player
Predrag Drobnjak
Center
2001-2005
Former player
Predrag Savović
Guard
2002-03
Former player
Sasha Pavlović
Guard/forward
2003-2013
Former player
Žarko Čabarkapa
Forward
2003-2006
Former player
Aleksandar Radojević
Center
1999-2005
Former player
Slavko Vraneš
Center
2003-04
Former player
Nikola Peković
Center
2010-2016
Former player
Nikola Vučević
Center
2011 to present
Orlando Magic
Nikola Mirotić
Forward
2014-2019
Former player
Javonte Green
Guard
2019 to present
Detroit Pistons
Marko Simonović
Forward/center
2021-2023
Former player
Players from Montenegro in the NBA in 2026-27
- Nikola Vučević: center, 6’9″, age 35, Orlando Magic. Entering NBA season 16; drafted in 2011, round 1, pick 16.
- Javonte Green: guard, 6’5″, age 33, Detroit Pistons. Entering NBA season 8; undrafted.
NBA centers from Montenegro
6 of the 12 players in the table played center or forward/center: Predrag Drobnjak (2001-2005), Aleksandar Radojević (2004-05), Slavko Vraneš (2004), Nikola Peković (2010-2017), Nikola Vučević (2011 to present) and Marko Simonović (2021-2023). Our database also lists 3 young players from Montenegro at 7 feet or taller.
7-Foot Prospects from Montenegro
3 active players from Montenegro are listed at 7 feet or taller and born in 2001 or later in our 7-Foot Prospect Database, last checked on 9 October 2026:
- Damjan Vukcevic: 7’1″ (216 cm), born in 2002, Young Harris (NCAA D2)
- Mihailo Stijovic: 7’1″ (216 cm), born in 2004, Florida A&M (NCAA D1)
- Maruan Cicic: 7’0″ (213 cm), born in 2006, Green Bay (NCAA D1)
See every player, with filters by country, in the 7-Foot Prospect Database.
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.
For a country with under one million residents, Montengegro has an impressive number of NBA players out there. Montenegro played three times at FIBA EuroBasket (2011, 2013, 2017). Among the other competitions, as a country with less than million inhabitants, Montenegro participated at the Games of the Small States of Europe 2015 and won first place.
NBA Players from Montenegro
-
Žarko Čabarkapa
He is now a retired NBA basketball player. Žarko played as one of the most powerful forwards at his time of his career. Žarko was born on 21st May 1981; his career lasted for 12 years from 1997 to 2009. His jersey number varied from 6,11 and 15 and played at the position of a power forward. He represented Beopetrol, Budućnost Podgorica, Pheonix Suns and Golden State Warriors throughout his career.
- Omar Cook
Born on 28th January 1982, Omar is an NBA basketball player. He started his career as a basketball player in the year 2001 and is still seem to go strong. Over his career years, he has represented Fayetteville Patriots, Portland Trail Blazers, Toronto Raptors, Dexia Mons-Hainaut, Samara, Strasbourg IG, Crvena Zvezda, Unicaja Malaga, Valencia, Olympia Milano, Caja Laboral, Lietuvos Rytas, Budućnost Podgorica and Estudiantes. He plays in the position of a Point Guard.
- Quincy Douby
Born on May 16, 1984, he started his career back in 2006 and is still continuing to play like an NBA Basketball player. During his career, he represented Sacramento Kings, Erie BayHawks, Toronto Raptors, Darussafaka Cooper Tires, Xinjiang Flying Tigers, UCAM Murcia, Zhejiang Golden Bulls, Sagesse Beirut, Applied Science University, Sioux Falls Skyforce, Shanghai Sharks, Darussafaka and Dogus, Tianjin Ronggang, Westchester Knicks and Afyonkarahisar Belediyespor.
- Predrag Drobnjak
Born on 27th October 1975, is a strong NBA basketball player plays in the position of power forward or center. He is an ex-basketball player who played basketball throughout the years starting from 1992 to 2011. Throughout his entire career, he represented Partizan, Efes Pilsen, Seattle Supersonics, Los Angeles Clippers, Atlanta Hawks, Tau Ceramica, Akasvayu Girona, Besiktas Cola Turka, PAOK, and Iraklis. He also won the Spanish Cup and the Turkish Cup.
- Nikola Peković
Born on 3rd January 1981, he started his career as an NBA basketball player in the year 2003 and still holds strong in his present days. He is known to play in the position of center. In his career, he represented many teams, likely, which are Atlas, Avala Ada, Partizan, Panathinaikos, Minnesota Timberwolves. He currently plays for Partizan. He is also known to be won the under 20 European championships.
- Slavko Vranes
Born on 30th January 1983, he started his career as an NBA basketball player in the year 1997 and is still holding strong. He plays in the position of a center. Till date, in his entire career, he represented FMP Zeleznik, Tofas, Efes Pilsen, Buducnost Podgorica, Portland Trail Blazers, Crvena Zvezda, Partizan Belgrade, UNICS Kazan, Petrochimi Bandar Imam, Metalac Valjevo, Zob Ahan Isfahan, Ayandez Sazan Tehran. He is also known to be one of the tallest players in the world.
- Nikola Vučević
Born on 20th October 1990, he plays as an NBA basketball player in the position of center and plays in the NBA league. He is a recent upcoming player who started his career in the year 2011. Still, he is holding strong in his 6th year of the career. In these 6 years, he represented Buducnost Podgorica, Philadelphia 76ers, and Orlando Magic.
8. Nicola Mirotic
Mirotic has had the most colorful NBA career out of all players from Montenengro. He joined the Bulls and was an immediate offensive weapon. Then he got punched in the face by Bobby Portis and broke his orbital bones, and was out for a few months. He came back to a tanking Bulls team, and played the best basketball of his life, so much so that the tanking Bulls had to trade him in order to get worse! He was dealt to the New Orleans Pelicans in return for a draft pick.
When Montenegro's NBA players arrived
Players by the decade of their first NBA season.
Show the data behind this chart
Decade of NBA debut
Players
1980s
1
1990s
1
2000s
5
2010s
4
2020s
1
Frequently asked questions
How many NBA players are from Montenegro?
Wikipedia counts 10 (including 5 foreign-born Montenegrins). Our table names 12 players with a tie to Montenegro.
Which players from Montenegro are in the NBA in 2026-27?
As of October 2026: Nikola Vučević (Orlando Magic) and Javonte Green (Detroit Pistons).
Who was the first NBA player from Montenegro?
Žarko Paspalj, who debuted in 1989 (born in Montenegro; listed under Serbia).
Which centers from Montenegro have played in the NBA?
Predrag Drobnjak, Aleksandar Radojević, Slavko Vraneš, Nikola Peković, Nikola Vučević and Marko Simonović.
Are there 7-foot prospects from Montenegro?
Yes. Our 7-Foot Prospect Database lists 3: Damjan Vukcevic, Mihailo Stijovic and Maruan Cicic.
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 Montenegro may be missing from the table. Last checked 9 October 2026.
