When Clint Capela first arrived in Houston as a raw 20-year-old in 2014, he was the energetic apprentice to the “Lob City” era of the Rockets.
After a highly productive five-year stint in Atlanta, the veteran big man has come full circle, returning to the Toyota Center in 2025 as a seasoned defensive anchor. In a 2026 season defined by high-stakes competition and a shifting Western Conference hierarchy, Capela provides a steady, rim-protecting presence for a Rockets squad looking to recapture the magic of his first tenure.
But Capela’s world extends far beyond the hardwood of the NBA. A polyglot with deep roots in Switzerland and the Republic of Congo, he watches the global sports landscape with the eye of a true international ambassador.
With the 2026 World Cup arriving in North America this summer, Capela is balancing his pursuit of a deep playoff run with the historic football milestones of his home countries. In this exclusive conversation, he breaks down the intersection of soccer and basketball, his “starting five” of soccer-ready NBA stars and why consistency is the ultimate mark of greatness.
Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: You’ve always been a fan of the “other” football. As a professional athlete, what is something you see in basketball that you think translates directly over into soccer?
Clint Capela: Something that basketball will translate? Just the speed and the footwork, you know? Obviously that togetherness, playing as a team and stuff like that for sure.
Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: Looking at the next six months to a year, there is so much global momentum. What do you see in terms of soccer crossing over into the basketball world?
Clint Capela: The World Cup is coming here and I’m very excited because both of my countries are qualifying in Switzerland and [Republic] of Congo which are my home countries. It doesn’t get better than this.
Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: That is a legendary situation for your family. Between Switzerland and Congo, who are you actually pulling for when the tournament kicks off?
Clint Capela: I’m 50-50 for sure. I think for Congo it’s the first time qualifying in seven years or something? So that would be even crazier, you know? So they play in the playoffs in March, so they got a good chance.
Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: If you had to build an NBA “Starting Five” of guys who could actually hold their own on a soccer pitch, who are you picking?
Clint Capela: Joel Embiid. I would say Luka [Dončić], [Pascal] Siakam, Giannis [Antetokounmpo] and [Nikola] Jokić.
Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: You’ve been a part of some legendary Rockets teams in the past. Comparing this 2026 group to your first run in Houston, do you think this version of the team is better?
Clint Capela: We have a chance to do better. I mean, every season is different. The road is different and the style of play is different… I mean, before the swagger was different for sure. We felt like that we were… I don’t want to say Hollywood but it was a lot of guys with that swagger thing that we had that felt pretty special.
Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: You spent a significant amount of time in Atlanta. Do you ever find yourself pulling up the Hawks on League Pass when you have a night off?
Clint Capela: I watch sometimes. I like the young guys. I like what I see. They’re a great talent. He’s [Jonathan Kuminga] and he’s representing a little bit of the Congo but I love to see how J got better — I saw him as a rookie in 2021 and he’s gotten so much better so I really appreciate that. I really love to see his worth.
Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: As one of the elite defensive bigs in the game, who are the other centers that you genuinely enjoy watching when you’re a fan for a night?
Clint Capela: Jokić. Because he sees everything and he can do everything and he’s so consistent every night. It’s not one game wows. It’s tomorrow night, two days, four days… 2 years, 4-5 to eight years. I mean, you have to appreciate that because it is hard to be at that level every night for that many years.
Clint Capela’s perspective is one of a man who appreciates the longevity of greatness. Whether he is praising the year-over-year consistency of Nikola Jokić or marveling at the growth of a young talent like Jonathan Kuminga, Capela understands that the NBA is a marathon, not a sprint. His return to Houston has brought a sense of perspective to a locker room filled with young talent, reminding them that while “swagger” is special, it’s the footwork and togetherness that ultimately lead to winning.
As the 2026 World Cup looms and the NBA postseason approaches, Capela finds himself at the center of a historic sporting moment. He isn’t just a center for the Rockets; he is a bridge between cultures and eras. If Congo can navigate their March playoffs and secure that spot, Capela will be cheering just as hard as he does when he’s protecting the rim in Houston. For the man they call the Swiss Bank, the value is always in the consistency—both on the court and in his roots.
