NBA Players from Uruguay: Full List (2026)
1 NBA player has come from Uruguay, counting players born there and players listed with its nationality. As of October 2026, none is on an NBA roster. The most recent was Esteban Batista (2005-2007).
NBA players from Uruguay at a glance
| NBA players, all time | 1 |
|---|---|
| On NBA rosters, October 2026 | None |
| First to play in the NBA | Esteban Batista (2005) |
| Longest NBA career | Esteban Batista (2 seasons) |
| Centers | 1: Esteban Batista |
| 7-foot prospects in our database | None right now |
| Last checked | 9 October 2026 |
Every NBA player from Uruguay
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Esteban Batista | Forward/center | 2005-2007 | Former player |
Every NBA career from Uruguay, 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
Esteban Batista
Forward/center
2005-2007
Former player
Players from Uruguay in the NBA in 2026-27
No player from Uruguay is on an NBA roster as of October 2026.
NBA centers from Uruguay
1 of the 1 player in the table played center or forward/center: Esteban Batista (2005-2007).
7-Foot Prospects from Uruguay
No active player from Uruguay 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.
Uruguay is a South American country that is more famous for its soccer team than its basketball team. However, what many people fail to notice is that even their basketball national team was once a force to be reckoned with.
Their golden days were in the 50’s. They won bronze medals in 1952 and 1956 Summer Olympic Games. They also won in 2007 Pan American Games beating the South American basketball superpower Argentina.
Uruguay NBA Players:
Esteban Batista
Batista is born September 2, 1983, and he is the first basketball player from Uruguay that has played in the NBA. In 2001, he started his career as a professional basketball player in Uruguay’s National League. Two years later he went to play in the Spanish LEB league.
He signed his first NBA contract as a free agent on September 12, 2005, with the Atlanta Hawks. He played his first minutes on November 2, the same year. His last NBA team was Boston Celtics. On October 16, 2007, the Celtics waived his contract.
After his NBA career ended, he played for various teams from Europe and spent one season in China with the Beikong Fly Dragons. Since 2017 he is back in Uruguay where he signed with Club Atletico Welcome.
Right now there are no immediate, additional NBA players expected to come from Uruguay, but hopefully in the future we will see some blue chip NCAA or NBA prospects coming from Uruguay.
How Uruguay compares with other small basketball countries
NBA players all time: the eight leaders among the 46 countries we compared, and Uruguay.
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
Uruguay
1
Frequently asked questions
How many NBA players are from Uruguay?
We count 1, including players born there and players listed with its nationality.
Which players from Uruguay are in the NBA in 2026-27?
None as of October 2026. The most recent was Esteban Batista (2005-2007).
Who was the first NBA player from Uruguay?
Esteban Batista, who debuted in 2005.
Which centers from Uruguay have played in the NBA?
Esteban Batista.
Are there 7-foot prospects from Uruguay?
Not right now. Our 7-Foot Prospect Database has no active player from Uruguay 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 Uruguay may be missing from the table. Last checked 9 October 2026.
