ATLANTA (USA) - Clint Capela understands the significance of his native Switzerland hosting the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2025 as it looks to develop the game in the country.

The NBA veteran will be the event's Ambassador and he gave some hope to Swiss fans by hinting that he may return to the national team.

The Atlanta Hawks center Capela was named as the ambassador for the FIBA U19 World Cup, which will be the first time the country takes part in the competition.

When asked what it means to him being named as an ambassador for the event, Capela said: "It's important because the event is taking place near my home, in Geneva. For quite a few years now, [I've been representing Swiss basketball abroad]. My popularity has grown pretty quickly. Being an ambassador for this World Cup means a lot because I know there are a lot of young people looking up to me."

It has been nearly 16 years since the 30-year-old Capela first played for Switzerland when the Geneva native averaged 12.2 points and 8.2 rebounds at the FIBA U16 EuroBasket 2009, Division B. A summer later he starred at the same competition, collecting 20.4 points and 16.1 rebounds in 2010. Capela played at the FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2011, Division B and dominated once again with 15.7 points and 15.7 rebounds.

"It was cool. Those are moments I will never forget because we trained two to three times a day. We had a Montenegrin coach, who took us to Montenegro to do two-week camp," Capela said of Zoran Popovic, who still works in the Swiss basketball landscape.

"It was tough, intense and so hot. We were all exhausted, but the coach didn't let us off the hook. We had to wash our training clothes in the sink with shower gel and hang them to dry because if we didn't they would smell. That's when I really started to see all my potential and what I was capable of."

It was tough moments like that which laid the foundation for a career that started in the NBA in 2014 with Houston and then moving onto Atlanta in 2020 and continues through this season.

"I’m 'grateful' when I think of what I went through to get to where I am today. It's all just happiness to have this career. Being in the NBA, with everything I went through before, that's where the dream lies," he said.

Capela last played for Switzerland in August 2019 in the FIBA EuroBasket 2021 Pre-Qualifiers. And the team had an amazing comeback in his last game - a 109-85 victory over Iceland at home - to take place in the qualifying group.

"We had a group with Portugal and Iceland. It was a home-and-away series, and we finished first. We had to win the last match (against Iceland) by 20 points at home, and we managed to do it, which was really incredible. The arena was full, everyone was excited; it's a moment I will never forget. It was incredible," recalled the big man, who had 18 points and 15 rebounds versus Iceland.

Swiss fans are going on six years waiting to see Capela in their red and white uniform.

When asked if he would return to the national team, he said: "You should never say never. You never know. When you play for your country, it's very different. You know the games are limited; it's not like in club basketball, where there are many games.'

He continued: "I'll let things come to me. We'll see if it's the right timing and if I feel like it, but you should never say never."

Capela said the development of Swiss basketball has been pushed with youngsters leaving the country more often.

"Young people in Switzerland are starting to realize they need to go abroad to really have a chance at a basketball career. That's what I had to do when I made the choice to go to Elan Chalon at 15," said Capela, who left Switzerland for France in 2009.

"I didn't think twice about going to France. Since my time, more and more Swiss players are going to the United States and Spain. That's what is evolving Swiss basketball."

Switzerland have not played in a EuroBasket since 1955 and did not make the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers. They have instead over the last three FIBA windows been competing in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 European Pre-Qualifiers - winning their First Round group to reach the Second Round.

When Capela will line up again for Switzerland remains unclear, but Swiss fans will see him around the court in Lausanne for this summer's FIBA U19 World Cup.

FIBA