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Forward · 2017–19

Thabo Sefolosha

No Swiss player had reached the NBA before him. The son of a South African musician and a Swiss artist from Vevey, Sefolosha turned professional at 17, went 13th in the 2006 draft, and built a long career on defense — All-Defensive Second Team in 2010 and a starter for Oklahoma City's 2012 Finals team. He signed with Utah in 2017, though knee surgery ended his first Jazz season early.

He retired in 2021, but could not quite stay away — in 2023 he suited up again for Vevey Riviera Basket, the hometown club where it all began.

HOW HE CAME & WENTHe signed a two-year, $10.5 million deal on July 18, 2017 and at 33 produced his best offensive numbers in nearly a decade. A right MCL injury ended his first season in January 2018 and required surgery. The contract then expired and he left as a free agent.

Full name
Thabo Patrick Sefolosha
Utah Jazz tenure
2017–19
Position
Forward
Born
1984, Vevey, Switzerland
Height
6′7″ (201 cm)
Weight
220 lb (100 kg)
Drafted
2006, 1st round (No. 13), Philadelphia
Signature in the archive 2006 SP AUTHENTIC 101 /999

No photograph of this signature is online yet.

With the Jazz

THABO SEFOLOSHA · 2017–19 · PER GAME
SEASONTEAMGMPGPPGRPGAPGSPGBPGFG%3P%FT%
2017–18UTA3821.28.24.20.91.40.3.492.381.815
2018–19UTA5012.23.82.50.50.90.1.477.436.636
JAZZ TOTAL2 SEASONS8816.15.73.20.71.10.2.486.407.763

Season by season, regular season, with this franchise only. More info: Basketball-Reference ↗  ·  Wikipedia ↗

Did you know

THABO SEFOLOSHA · 5 NOTES
  • A Swiss newspaper labelled him the best Swiss basketball player of all time in 2013.
  • Shortly after signing with Utah he saved a woman from drowning during a family rafting trip on the Provo River.
  • A French scout spotted him on a team trip and pulled him out of Switzerland at 17 to join Elan Chalon.
  • When someone told him he was next to be drafted in 2006, he assumed a mistake had been made.
  • Leaving as a free agent in 2019 he said 'I enjoyed playing for the team, it's been a great two years' and would have returned if asked.