NBA Players from Switzerland: Full List (2026)
3 NBA players have come from Switzerland, by Wikipedia’s count. Our table below names 6: players born outside the United States with a tie to Switzerland, plus current players listed with its nationality. As of October 2026, 4 are on an NBA roster: Nikola Vučević (Orlando Magic), Clint Capela (Houston Rockets), Kyshawn George (Washington Wizards) and Yanic Konan Niederhäuser (Los Angeles Clippers).
NBA players from Switzerland at a glance
| NBA players, all time | 3 (Wikipedia count); 6 named in our table |
|---|---|
| On NBA rosters, October 2026 | 4: Nikola Vučević, Clint Capela, Kyshawn George, Yanic Konan Niederhäuser |
| First to play in the NBA | Thabo Sefolosha (2006) |
| Longest NBA career | Nikola Vučević (15 seasons) |
| Centers | 2: Nikola Vučević, Yanic Konan Niederhäuser |
| 7-foot prospects in our database | 1 (see them) |
| Last checked | 9 October 2026 |
Every NBA player from Switzerland
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thabo Sefolosha | Guard | 2006-2020 | Former player | |
| Enes Freedom | Forward | 2011-2022 | Former player | Born in Switzerland; listed under Turkey |
| Nikola Vučević | Center | 2011 to present | Orlando Magic | Born in Switzerland; listed under Montenegro |
| Clint Capela | Forward | 2014 to present | Houston Rockets | |
| Kyshawn George | Guard | 2024 to present | Washington Wizards | Born in Switzerland; listed under Canada |
| Yanic Konan Niederhäuser | Center | 2025 to present | Los Angeles Clippers |
Players from Switzerland 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.
- Clint Capela: forward, 6’10”, age 32, Houston Rockets. Entering NBA season 13; drafted in 2014, round 1, pick 25.
- Kyshawn George: guard, 6’8″, age 22, Washington Wizards. Entering NBA season 3; drafted in 2024, round 1, pick 24.
- Yanic Konan Niederhäuser: center, 6’11”, age 23, Los Angeles Clippers. Entering NBA season 2; drafted in 2025, round 1, pick 30.
NBA centers from Switzerland
2 of the 6 players in the table played center or forward/center: Nikola Vučević (2011 to present) and Yanic Konan Niederhäuser (2025 to present). Our database also lists 1 young player from Switzerland at 7 feet or taller.
7-Foot Prospects from Switzerland
One active player from Switzerland is listed at 7 feet or taller and born in 2001 or later in our 7-Foot Prospect Database, last checked on 9 October 2026:
- Yanic Konan Niederhauser: 7’0″ (213 cm), born in 2003, Los Angeles Clippers (NBA)
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.
Switzerland is one of the few countries with the longest basketball tradition and at the same time a founding member of FIBA. Once a powerhouse in basketball, nowadays it’s just a shadow of those times. Their most significant basketball success happened in 1935 when they finished at the 4th place at the Eurobasket. The next year they even qualified for the Olympics where they finished 9th. For their next big tournament, they had to wait for 1948 to come when they were also at Olympics. However, they haven’t qualified for Eurobasket for more than half a century, since 1955.
Switzerland/Swiss NBA Players:
Clint Capela
Capela was born May 18th, 1944 in Geneva. He played on the center position, standing at 6 ft. 11. On the 2014 NBA Draft, he was selected as the 25th overall pick by the Houston Rockets. He also spent much of his first season with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in the NBA G League. In the following season, he became a standard member of the Rockets roster, featuring several impressive parties. He was the only Rocket’s player that managed to make 25 rebounds and 23 points in one game since the legendary center Hakeem Olajuwon.
Capella recently signed a 5 year $90 million contract with the Rockets, and his emergence as a legitimate third star alongside James Harden and Chris Paul (sorry Carmelo but you suck!) will be a crucial ingredient for the Rockets to continue their emergence as the one contender to unseat the Warriors.
Thabo Sefolosha
Thabo was born May 2nd, 1984 in the small Swiss city of Vevey. Before signing up for the 2006 NBA draft, he played as a professional for almost eight seasons in the top leagues of Swiss, France, and Italy. On the NBA draft, he was selected as the 15th pick by the Philadelphia Sixers that sent him to Chicago Bulls for another pick. After three years with the Bulls, in 2009 he was once again part of a trade that landed him in Oklahoma.
During the lockout in 2011, he went and played for Fenerbahce. His deal was only for Europa League matches after which he returned with the Thunders. From 2014 to 2017 he played for Atlanta. After Atlanta, he signed a multi-year contract with Utah Jazz. Thabo was also involved in a lawsuit against the NYPD after he was arrested approximately two years ago.
Right now there are no immediate, additional Swiss NBA players expected to come from Switzerland, but hopefully in the future we will see some blue chip NCAA or NBA prospects coming from Switzerland.
Frequently asked questions
How many NBA players are from Switzerland?
Wikipedia counts 3. Our table names 6 players with a tie to Switzerland.
Which players from Switzerland are in the NBA in 2026-27?
As of October 2026: Nikola Vučević (Orlando Magic), Clint Capela (Houston Rockets), Kyshawn George (Washington Wizards) and Yanic Konan Niederhäuser (Los Angeles Clippers).
Who was the first NBA player from Switzerland?
Thabo Sefolosha, who debuted in 2006.
Which centers from Switzerland have played in the NBA?
Nikola Vučević and Yanic Konan Niederhäuser.
Are there 7-foot prospects from Switzerland?
Yes. Our 7-Foot Prospect Database lists 1: Yanic Konan Niederhauser.
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 Switzerland may be missing from the table. Last checked 9 October 2026.
