Cole Swider
{{Short description|American basketball player (born 1999)}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Cole Swider
| image = Cole Swider.jpg
| caption = Swider in 2017
| position = Power forward / small forward
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 8
| weight_lb = 220
| league =
| team = Free agent
| number =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|5|8}}
| birth_place = Portsmouth, Rhode Island, U.S.
| high_school = St. Andrew's School
(Barrington, Rhode Island)
| college =
| draft_year = 2022
| career_start = 2022
| years1 = {{nbay|2022|full=y}}
| team1 = Los Angeles Lakers
| years2 = 2022–2023
| team2 = →South Bay Lakers
| years3 = {{nbay|2023|full=y}}
| team3 = Miami Heat
| years4 = 2023–2024
| team4 = →Sioux Falls Skyforce
| years5 = {{nbay|2024|full=y}}
| team5 = Detroit Pistons
| years6 = 2024–2025
| team6 = →Motor City Cruise
| years7 = 2025
| team7 = South Bay Lakers
| years8 = {{nbay|2024|end}}
| team8 = Toronto Raptors
| highlights =
- NBA G League Next Up Game (2024)
}}
Cole Alexander Swider ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|w|aɪ|d|ər}} {{respell|SWY|dər}};{{cite press release|title=2023-24 start of season NBA pronunciation guide|url=https://www.nba.com/news/2023-24-start-of-season-nba-pronunciation-guide|website=NBA.com|date=October 24, 2023|access-date=May 18, 2024}} born May 8, 1999) is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Villanova Wildcats and the Syracuse Orange.
Early life
Swider grew up in Portsmouth, Rhode Island and attended the St. Andrew's School.{{cite web|first=Steve|last=Rogers|title=Will Portsmouth's Cole Swider land in the NBA? Recent workouts suggest there's a chance.|url=https://www.newportri.com/story/sports/college/2022/06/22/nba-draft-syracuse-forward-cole-swider-portsmouth-ri/7699936001/|work=The Newport Daily News|date=June 22, 2022|access-date=June 24, 2022}} Swider was named the Rhode Island Gatorade Player of the Year as a junior after averaging 26.5 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.9 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game.{{cite web|title=Swider named RI Gatorade Player of the Year|url=https://www.providencejournal.com/story/sports/high-school/2017/03/20/swider-named-ri-gatorade-player-of-year/21882252007/|work=The Providence Journal|date=March 20, 2017|access-date=June 24, 2022}} He averaged 31 points per game in his senior season.{{cite web|title=Cole Swider|url=https://www.providencejournal.com/story/sports/2018/04/21/cole-swider/12593668007/|work=The Providence Journal|date=April 21, 2018|access-date=June 24, 2022}} Swider was rated a four-star recruit and committed to play college basketball at Villanova over offers from Syracuse, Xavier and Duke.{{cite web|first=Jeff|last=Goodman|title=Villanova lands forward Cole Swider, No. 48 recruit in ESPN 100|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/19775874|website=ESPN.com|date=June 30, 2017|access-date=June 24, 2022}}
College career
Swider began his collegiate career at Villanova. He played in 31 games and started 15 during his sophomore season and averaged 6.1 points and 2.9 rebounds.{{cite web|first=C.J.|last=Holmes|title=How could Villanova's rotation shake out? Version 1.0 of our projection|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2066276/2020/09/15/how-could-villanovas-rotation-shake-out-version-1-0-of-our-projection/|work=The Athletic|date=September 15, 2020|access-date=June 24, 2022}} As a junior, he played in all 25 of Villanova's games and averaged 5.7 points and 2.8 rebounds per game. After the season, Swider entered the NCAA transfer portal.{{cite web|first=Joe|last=Juliano|title=Villanova junior forward Cole Swider to enter NCAA transfer portal|url=https://www.inquirer.com/college-sports/villanova/villanova-cole-swider-transfer-portal-20210331.html|work=Philadelphia Inquirer|date=April 1, 2021|access-date=June 24, 2022}}
Swider ultimately transferred to Syracuse.{{cite web|title=Villanova Wildcats' Cole Swider transferring to Syracuse Orange|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/31203915|website=ESPN.com|publisher=Associated Press|date=April 6, 2021|access-date=June 24, 2022}} He became the Orange's starting power forward and averaged 13.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game.{{cite web|title=Cole Swider found right situation at Syracuse. Can he do it again in NBA?|url=https://www.syracuse.com/orangebasketball/2022/06/cole-swider-found-right-situation-at-syracuse-can-he-do-it-again-in-nba.html|work=The Post-Standard|date=June 22, 2022|access-date=June 24, 2022}} Following the end of the season, Swider announced that he would be entering the 2022 NBA draft and hiring an agent.{{cite web|first=Bill|last=Koch|title=Syracuse basketball Cole Swider enters NBA Draft 2022, from RI|url=https://www.providencejournal.com/story/sports/2022/04/03/syracuse-basketball-cole-swider-enters-2022-nba-draft-portsmouth-ri-native-st-andrews-school/7263250001/|work=The Providence Journal|date=April 3, 2022|access-date=June 24, 2022}}
Professional career
=Los Angeles / South Bay Lakers (2022–2023)=
After going undrafted in the 2022 NBA draft, Swider signed a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Lakers on July 1, 2022, splitting time with their G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers.{{cite web|title=Lakers sign Scotty Pippen Jr. and Cole Swider to Two-Way Contracts|url=https://www.nba.com/lakers/news/lakers-sign-scotty-pippen-jr-and-cole-swider-to-two-way-contracts-220701|website=NBA.com|date=July 1, 2022|access-date=July 1, 2022}} Swider joined the L.A. Lakers' 2022 NBA Summer League roster.{{cite web|title=Los Angeles Lakers 2022 NBA2K23 Summer League Roster {{!}} NBA.com|url=https://www.nba.com/summer-league/2022/vegas/team/1610612747/lakers|website=NBA.com|access-date=July 21, 2022}} In his Summer League debut, Swider scored thirteen points, six rebounds and a block in a 100–66 win against the Miami Heat.{{cite web|title=Los Angeles Lakers vs Miami Heat Jul 2, 2022 Box Scores {{!}} NBA.com|url=https://www.nba.com/game/lal-vs-mia-1322200001/box-score|website=NBA.com|access-date=July 21, 2022}} On July 26, 2023, Swider was waived by the Lakers.{{cite web|title=Los Angeles Lakers Sign Alex Fudge to Two-Way Contract|url=https://www.nba.com/lakers/news/los-angeles-lakers-sign-alex-fudge-to-two-way-contract-072623|website=NBA.com|date=July 26, 2023|access-date=July 26, 2023}}
=Miami Heat / Sioux Falls Skyforce (2023–2024)=
On August 11, 2023, Swider signed with the Miami Heat{{cite web|title=HEAT MAKE ROSTER MOVES|url=https://www.nba.com/heat/news/heat-make-roster-moves|website=NBA.com|date=August 11, 2023|access-date=August 12, 2023}} and on October 21, his deal was converted into a two-way contract.{{cite web|title=HEAT SIGN DRU SMITH TO STANDARD CONTRACT|url=https://www.nba.com/heat/news/heat-sign-dru-smith-to-standard-contract|website=NBA.com|date=October 21, 2023|access-date=October 21, 2023}}
=Detroit Pistons / Motor City Cruise (2024–2025)=
On August 8, 2024, Swider signed with the Indiana Pacers,{{cite web|title=Indiana Pacers Sign Freeman and Swider|url=https://www.nba.com/pacers/news/indiana-pacers-sign-freeman-and-swider|website=NBA.com|date=August 8, 2024|access-date=August 8, 2024}} but was waived on October 18.{{cite web|title=Indiana Pacers Announce Roster Moves|url=https://www.nba.com/pacers/news/indiana-pacers-announce-roster-moves-241018|website=NBA.com|date=October 18, 2024|access-date=October 20, 2024}} Three days later, he signed a two-way contract with the Detroit Pistons.{{cite web|title=DETROIT PISTONS SIGN COLE SWIDER TO A TWO-WAY CONTRACT|url=https://www.nba.com/pistons/news/detroit-pistons-sign-cole-swider-to-a-two-way-contract|website=NBA.com|date=October 21, 2024|access-date=October 21, 2024}} However, he was waived on January 6, 2025.{{cite tweet|author=Pistons PR|title=The @DetroitPistons announced today that the team has signed Ron Harper Jr. and Tolu Smith to two-way contracts. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed. In a related move, the Pistons waived forward Cole Swider and guard Alondes Williams.|number=1876388325537497524|user=Pistons_PR|date=January 6, 2025|access-date=January 7, 2025}}
= Return to South Bay (2025) =
On February 19, 2025, Swider was acquired by the South Bay Lakers via a trade with Motor City Cruise.{{cite web |title=South Bay Lakers Acquire Forward Cole Swider |url=https://southbay.gleague.nba.com/news/south-bay-lakers-acquire-forward-cole-swider |access-date=20 February 2025 |website=South Bay Lakers |language=en}} The next day Swider put up a season-high 36 points in a 123-112 loss against the Rip City Remix.{{Cite web |date=2025-02-21 |title=Lakers’ G League returnee shines in explosive South Bay comeback |url=https://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/lakers_g_league_returnee_shines_in_explosive_south_bay_comeback/s1_13132_41791729 |access-date=2025-02-22 |website=Yardbarker |language=en}}
= Toronto Raptors (2025) =
On March 26, 2025, Swider signed a 10-day contract with the Toronto Raptors.{{cite web|title=Raptors sign forward Cole Swider to 10-day contract|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nba/article/raptors-sign-forward-cole-swider-to-10-day-contract/|website=sportsnet.ca|date=March 26, 2025}} On April 5, Swider re-signed with Toronto for the remainder of the season.{{Cite web|title=Raptors Re-Sign Sharpshooting Wing to Fill Final Roster Spot|url=https://www.si.com/nba/raptors/toronto-raptors-re-sign-cole-swider-to-final-roster-spot|access-date=April 10, 2025|website=si.com|language=en}} In 8 games for the Raptors, he averaged 7.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 0.3 assists. On April 10, Swider was waived by Toronto.{{Cite web|title=Raptors waive forward Cole Swider and centre Orlando Robinson|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nba/article/raptors-waive-forward-cole-swider-and-centre-orlando-robinson/|access-date=April 10, 2025|website=sportsnet.ca|language=en}}
Career statistics
{{NBA player statistics legend}}
=College=
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2018–19
| style="text-align:left;"| Villanova
| 21 || 0 || 9.5 || .375 || .283 || .632 || 1.2 || .6 || .1 || .0 || 3.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2019–20
| style="text-align:left;"| Villanova
| 31 || 15 || 18.5 || .442 || .352 || .667 || 2.9 || .6 || .2 || .3 || 6.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2020–21
| style="text-align:left;"| Villanova
| 25 || 2 || 18.8 || .426 || .402 || .750 || 2.8 || 1.1 || .5 || .1 || 5.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2021–22
| style="text-align:left;"| Syracuse
| 33 || 33 || 34.3 || .440 || .411 || .866 || 6.8 || 1.4 || 1.0 || .4 || 13.9
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career
| 110 || 50 || 21.7 || .432 || .381 || .794 || 3.7 || .9 || .5 || .2 || 7.8
{{S-end}}
=NBA=
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2022}}
| style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Lakers
| 7 || 0 || 5.9 || .333 || .375 || {{sort|-|—}} || 1.0 || .6 || .0 || .0 || 1.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2023}}
| style="text-align:left;"| Miami
| 18 || 0 || 4.8 || .395 || .333 || 1.000 || .4 || .3 || .1 || .1 || 2.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan=2| {{nbay|2024}}
| style="text-align:left;"| Detroit
| 2 || 0 || 6.5 || .000 || .000 || {{sort|-|—}} || 1.0 || .5 || .0 || .0 || .0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| Toronto
| 8 || 0 || 19.6 || .379 || .357 || .000 || 3.1 || .3 || .5 || .3 || 7.4
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career
| 35 || 0 || 8.5 || .364 || .329 || .667 || 1.2 || .3 || .1 || .1 || 3.1
{{S-end}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://villanova.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/cole--swider/11847 Villanova Wildcats bio]
- [https://cuse.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/cole-swider/20269 Syracuse Orange bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Swider, Cole}}
Category:21st-century American sportsmen
Category:American expatriate basketball people in Canada
Category:American men's basketball players
Category:Basketball players from Rhode Island
Category:Detroit Pistons players
Category:Los Angeles Lakers players
Category:Motor City Cruise players
Category:People from Portsmouth, Rhode Island
Category:Sioux Falls Skyforce players
Category:South Bay Lakers players
Category:Syracuse Orange men's basketball players
Category:Toronto Raptors players