Thabo Sefolosha was born in Vevey (Switzerland) along the Lake of Geneva, on May 2nd, 1984. He was enroll in La Tour-de-Peils Junior School followed by the one in Clarens. He always had a preference for sport and music.

Having a father whose musician helped Thabo to learn playing drum fastly. He spent the most of his time with his eldest brother, Kgomotso. They played and practiced together different kind of sports as the most of their friends.

In the mid 90’s, a friend of Kgomotso invites them a day to play basketball in Blonay, the basketball club where he was playing. It will be the turning point for the two brothers. Thabo and Kgomotso immediately understood that Basketball was going to be their addiction. They began to play it everyday with a strong pleasure and without time out. They often played until the nightfall, sometimes later.

The two brothers incorporated fastly the state selection, which contains all the best players of their state (Vaud). This experience gave them the possibility to play against other states in Switzerland and some tournaments in France, Italy and Spain. And it’s in one of these, in Chalon-sur-Saone (France), that Thabo met Emmanuel Schmitt, who’s the manager of the basketball club formation center of the Elan Chalon club.

Thabo and Kgomotso always played and trained together, regularly during some long hours on the playground, thrusting some challenges between them and improving continually. They watched on their video tapes the best NBA players doing some crazy moves and performances. The two brothers tried to reproduce the same moves on the court and earned in skill and lucidity.

Thabo and Kgomotso intruded thereselves quickly into the Swiss championship with the Junior team of Blonay, often winning games with a lead of more than forty points. They were the Swiss Champions in 2002 and won the same title with the U-20 of Vevey Riviera.

At the age of 16 years old, Thabo already received a proposition to join up the basketball U-20 team of Chalon-sur-Saone. We are in year 2000 and the two brothers incorporated the same year the Junior national team of Switzerland. They also estimated that the prospect of improving were still positive in Switzerland, that’s why they joined up the Vevey Riviera Team in the first league which was precisely seeking for young talents.

Their first season at the highest championship level in Switzerland was the turning point of their life. They were from the beginning in the starting line up and they were noticed very promptly. They finished the season in final of the Swiss Cup against Lugano who won this year the cup. Nevertheless, this first professional season gave them the possibility to improve and to see other opportunities coming for them.

As every basketball players, Thabo and Kgomotso always dreamed to play in the USA. After the season in LNA (Highest league of basketball in Switzerland), playing with the best players of the country and haven’t yet 18 years old, they were supported by the Americans players who were training in Vevey to leave the LNA. The two brothers started to see further...

However, Christine Sefolosha didn’t wish to let the two brothers leave Switzerland without a degree. In the season 2001-2002, Kgomotso received a diploma in a Swiss bank. After that, he decided to leave the country and joined up the Junior College team of Park Hills in the Missouri, USA.

About Thabo, he was looking for passing his degree. In addition, he was only 17 years old and didn’t have the minimum required age to incorporate an American high school. An important event happened during this time, Emmanuel Schmitt who didn’t forget the young Swiss player is elected as the head coach of the first team of Chalon-sur-Saone. He contacted Thabo and proposed him to come play in France.

At the age of 18 years old, the Swiss player left Switzerland and joined up the French professional league. It was a real opportunity for him. In addition, the head coach has promised to his mother that Thabo will be able to pass his high school degree and do his training at the same time. In practical, it’s what the under-21 do most of the time.

Chalon will be the departure of his professional basketball career. Accustomed to be a leader in the Swiss championship, the young player who is 18 years old expected to conform pretty quickly to the French championship. He understood fast that there was a big difference between the Swiss championship and the French one.

During his first year he will principally play with the U-20 team of Chalon. It’s particularly the adaptation to some new conditions and rules which the French league contains that will be the principal lesson of the year. He worked very hard, surrounded by some very good formers. During his second year in Chalon, Emmanuel Schmitt gave his place of head coach to Greg Beugnot, who asked that Thabo should always be ready to play in the first team.

Thabo played less with the U-20 team and stayed also free for the first team on the bench. This year became rather frustrating on the sporting plan for the young player of 19 years old. But it also enabled him to meet his mate Bertille, who was also living and studying in Chalon-sur-Saone.

While the sentimental side of Thabo is going well, the end of the season was better for the Swiss player. He played inch by inch more minutes with the first team. Thabo exploded during the 2004 Playoffs, Chalon reached the semi-final against Pau-Orthez. During this period, Thabo made his point in the general fans. After many years of intensive work, the 3 letters of N-B-A can be imagined for the first time on the horizon of the basketball player.

The third season confirmed his results during the 2004 Playoffs and it seemed to be the big consecration for him. After the last playoffs where he gave all his talent to the team, Thabo became quickly a sure starting line upper. He intruded then during the season like the leader of the team. He was selected in December 2004 into the All Star Game which regroups the best players in the French championship. It was an important event for him all the more he was in the starting line up.

During this coverage event, he played more than 24min, with 87.5% in FG average and 17pts. At the age of 20 years old, Thabo Sefolosha was described by the French magazine “L’Equipe” to be one of the best elements in the French championship, he was compared to Richard Dacoury, the French basket icon. He finished his great season by being nominated “Bossman of the year” (Best European player not French).

After this wonderful season, Thabo realized his real chance to concrete his dream of being a NBA player. To optimize his chance and after many advices, he decided to join the Italian championship.

The Italian championship is considered to be the second best basketball championship in the world after USA. It’s an important moment for him but Thabo always liked this kind of challenge and he also knew that it’s the perfect place to be exposed to the eyes of the NBA’s scouts. He was traded to the Italian club of Angelico Biella, which has negotiated his transfer with Chalon for a high price. He began the 2005-2006 regular season with the Piedmontese colours.

Thabo Sefolosha liked the warmly atmosphere in Italy. He started very young with good gastronomy, as his brother Christophe is hotelier, and appreciated at the right value the Italian savours. Thabo also always had a particularly interest to history related and the one in Italy keenly interested him as he got his high school degree in Chalon, in Social & Economic sciences.

On the pitch, he adapted himself quickly to the Italian game. He was intruded in the starting line up and became an appreciated player through his team mate and through the enthusiastic public. His insurance and his lucidity impressed many people. The team reached the ¼ final at the end of the Lega season.

The end of the season rang for Thabo like the important moment of his young career. Indeed, after many successful years in Europe, the Swiss player knew that he could pretend for a NBA pick and was automatically eligible for the NBA draft. At almost 22 years old, he realized the perfect journey for a basketball player, after so many works and perseverance, he found his way from a non basketball country culture to one of the famous championship over the world.