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Thabo Sefolosha. Photo by Keith Allison from Hanover, MD, USA. derivative work: Shakeydeal33.

Top 10 Cool Facts about Thabo Selofosha

Thabo Patrick Sefolosha is a former professional basketball player. He was born on the 2nd of May 1984 in Vevey Switzerland.

His father was a black South African musician, and his mother was a Swiss artist. He traveled a lot while he was still young allowing him to learn how to speak three different languages.

He became the first Swiss citizen to join the NBA and played for America for 14 years before retiring.

On the 8th of April, he was caught up in an altercation that resulted in his broken leg.

He was later proven innocent during the trial and he ended up suing New York City. He has been labeled the best Swiss basketball player of all time by the Swiss newspaper.

Here are 10 cool facts about Thabo Sefolosha:

1. Thabo is a Swiss former professional basketball player

Thabo Patrick Sefolosha began playing basketball professionally at the tender age of 17. 

He was first signed to Vevey Riviera Basket team that plays in the first national tier.

He joined the Swiss basketball club based in Vevey in 2001. He then moved and played in France, Italy then finally America for 14 years.

The Swiss-born athlete impressed crowds with his skills and tactics before announcing his retirement from professional basketball on March 31, 2021.

2. He is the first player from Switzerland to play in the NBA

Thabo Sefolosha. Photo by Jauerback.

Thabo began playing professionally in Switzerland’s first National Tier basketball club Tege Riviera Basket.

He then moved to the Élan Chalon basketball team after a team visit to France. A contract dispute arose between Sefolosha and the Elan Chalon team causing him to shift and sign with the Italian team Angelico Biella.

In 2006 Thabo was taken with the 13th pick of the 2006 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers and promptly traded to the Chicago Bulls. He then became the first player from Switzerland to play in the NBA.

3. He is Trilingual

Trilingualism is the ability to ability to speak three languages with general fluency.

It is estimated that the total of the world’s trilingual speakers at just over 1 billion people making it merely 13% of the earth’s population.

Thabo acquired this unique talent in his youth. He visited and lived in several countries and learned how to speak French, Italian and English.

4. He began his professional career at the age of 17

Sefolosha’s parents were artistic. His father was a black South African musician while his mother was a Swiss artist.

Thabo did not follow in his parent’s footsteps and ventured into sports. His passion for the game got him an invitation to join the junior Swiss national basketball team.

When he was 17 years old he began a professional career with Tege Riviera Basket, in Switzerland’s top domestic league.

His talents and brilliance on the court attracted the attention of a French talent scout while his team was on a trip to France.

He was invited to play with Elan Chalon in the premier pro league in France. His career began to take off soon after playing with the junior under-21 squad in Chalon-sur-Saône before joining the senior squad

5. His right leg was broken during an altercation with the New York City Police Department

Thabo Sefolosha. Photo by J.smith. .

Thabo and his teammate Pero Antić were arrested outside a nightclub in New York City on April 8, 2015.

They were charged with alleged interference with police after the stabbing of Chris Copeland of the Indiana Pacers.

Chris Copeland is an American former professional basketball player who was stabbed in the abdomen following an argument.

During the altercation, Sefolosha’s right leg was broken by the NYPD officers shutting him down for the rest of the season.  He had to undergo surgery to repair a fractured tibia and ligament damage on the 16th of April that same year.

6. He donated a substantial portion of his settlement money to a nonprofit organization

After being convicted not guilty for the three misdemeanor charges filed against him for the April 8th altercation Sefolosha announced his return to court.

He declared he would be suing the city of New York as well as the eight police officers involved.

He announced on the 21st of October 2015 that he wanted a settlement for up to $50 million in damages.

Two years later it was announced Sefolosha had settled with the NYPD for $4 million. He then went ahead and donated quite a substantial portion to Gideon’s Promise.

  The center is a nonprofit organization that provides ongoing continuing education programs for law school students, new public defenders, senior public defenders, law school clinicians, and chief public defenders

7. He was found not guilty at the NYC trial by the Manhattan Jury

LeBron James and Thabo Sefolosha. Photo by Erik Drost from United States..

Shortly after Thabo was arrested he was offered a plea bargain by the prosecution.

His charges were to be dismissed after six months and his attorney Alexander Benjamin Spiro urged him to take it.

Sefolosha adamantly refused and said that he wanted to let the case proceed to trial instead.

Thabo’s partner whom he was arrested with Pero Antić a Macedonian basketball executive and former professional player had his case dropped on the same day Sefolosha refused his plea.

The court hearing was set for the 5th of October 2015. Four days later the Manhattan jury reached a verdict and declare Thabo not guilty of all three counts of misdemeanor.

  He was charged with obstructing government administration, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest

8. He has been traded to numerous teams playing in the NBA

After joining the NBA in 2006 and playing for the Chicago bulls Sefolosha has worked with other teams as well.

In 2009 he joined the Oklahoma City Thunder playing for approximately 5 years. He was then traded to the Atlanta Hawks in 2014 and played for three years.

He then moved to Utah Jazz in 2017 and finally joined the Houston Rockets in 2019.

9. He has been labeled the best Swiss basketball player of all-time

Thabo Sefolosha and John Wall. Photo by Keith Allison from Hanover, MD, USA.

Freiburger Nachrichten is a newspaper in use in Switzerland. In 2013 the newspaper labeled Thabo as the best Swiss basketball player of all time.

This gained him great fame in his homeland. He had become the pioneer player to join the National Basketball Association professional basketball league in North America.

He is also accredited for playing for France and Italy as a unique professional basketball player.

10. He revealed he saved a woman from drowning in 2017

Sefolosha made known that he saved a woman from drowning in 2017.

The lady was saved from certain death in Provo River which is located in Utah County and Wasatch County, Utah, in the United States.

Thabo was on a rafting trip down the river with his family in October when this incident occurred.

This gained Sefolosha fame for his bravery gaining him admiration and love from his followers