Cole Swider Explained

Cole Swider
Position:Power forward / small forward
Height Ft:6
Height In:8
Weight Lb:220
League:NBA
Team:Indiana Pacers
Number:21
Birth Date:8 May 1999
Birth Place:Portsmouth, Rhode Island, U.S.
High School:St. Andrew's School
(Barrington, Rhode Island)
College:
Draft Year:2022
Career Start:2022
Team1:Los Angeles Lakers
Years2:2022–2023
Team2:South Bay Lakers
Team3:Miami Heat
Years4:2023–2024
Team4:Sioux Falls Skyforce
Years5:–present
Team5:Indiana Pacers
Highlights:

Cole Alexander Swider (;[1] born May 8, 1999) is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Villanova Wildcats and the Syracuse Orange.

Early life and high school career

Swider grew up in Portsmouth, Rhode Island and attended the St. Andrew's School.[2] 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.[3] He averaged 31 points per game in his senior season.[4] Swider was rated a four-star recruit and committed to play college basketball at Villanova over offers from Syracuse, Xavier and Duke.[5]

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.[6] 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.[7]

Swider ultimately transferred to Syracuse.[8] He became the Orange's starting power forward and averaged 13.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game.[9] Following the end of the season, Swider announced that he would be entering the 2022 NBA draft and hiring an agent.[10]

Professional career

Los Angeles / South Bay Lakers (2022–2023)

After going unselected 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.[11] Swider joined the L.A. Lakers' 2022 NBA Summer League roster.[12] In his Summer League debut, Swider scored thirteen points, six rebounds and a block in a 100–66 win against the Miami Heat.[13]

On July 26, 2023, the Lakers waived Swider.[14]

Miami Heat (2023–2024)

On August 11, 2023, Swider signed with the Miami Heat[15] and on October 21, his deal was converted into a two-way contract.[16]

Indiana Pacers (2024–present)

On August 8, 2024, Swider signed with the Indiana Pacers.[17]

Career statistics

College

|-| 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

NBA

|-| style="text-align:left;"| | style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Lakers| 7 || 0 || 5.9 || .333 || .375 || || 1.0 || .6 || .0 || .0 || 1.3|-| style="text-align:left;"| | style="text-align:left;"| Miami| 18 || 0 || 4.8 || .395 || .333 || 1.000 || .4 || .3 || .1 || .1 || 2.3|- class="sortbottom"| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career| 25 || 0 || 5.1 || .383 || .342 || 1.000 || .6 || .4 || .0 || .0 || 2.0

External links

Notes and References

  1. 2023-24 start of season NBA pronunciation guide. NBA.com. October 24, 2023. May 18, 2024.
  2. Web site: Will Portsmouth's Cole Swider land in the NBA? Recent workouts suggest there's a chance.. Steve. Rogers. The Newport Daily News. June 22, 2022. June 24, 2022.
  3. Web site: Swider named RI Gatorade Player of the Year. The Providence Journal. March 20, 2017. June 24, 2022.
  4. Web site: Cole Swider. The Providence Journal. April 21, 2018. June 24, 2022.
  5. Web site: Goodman . Jeff . June 30, 2017 . Villanova lands forward Cole Swider, No. 48 recruit in ESPN 100 . June 24, 2022 . ESPN.com.
  6. Web site: How could Villanova's rotation shake out? Version 1.0 of our projection. C.J.. Holmes. The Athletic. September 15, 2020. June 24, 2022.
  7. Web site: Villanova junior forward Cole Swider to enter NCAA transfer portal. Joe. Juliano. Philadelphia Inquirer. April 1, 2021. June 24, 2022.
  8. Web site: April 6, 2021 . Villanova Wildcats' Cole Swider transferring to Syracuse Orange . June 24, 2022 . . Associated Press.
  9. Web site: Cole Swider found right situation at Syracuse. Can he do it again in NBA?. The Post-Standard. June 22, 2022. June 24, 2022.
  10. Web site: Koch . Bill . April 3, 2022 . Syracuse basketball Cole Swider enters NBA Draft 2022, from RI . June 24, 2022 . The Providence Journal.
  11. Web site: July 1, 2022 . Lakers sign Scotty Pippen Jr. and Cole Swider to Two-Way Contracts . July 1, 2022 . NBA.com.
  12. Web site: Los Angeles Lakers 2022 NBA2K23 Summer League Roster NBA.com. NBA.com. July 21, 2022.
  13. Web site: Los Angeles Lakers vs Miami Heat Jul 2, 2022 Box Scores NBA.com . July 21, 2022 . NBA.com.
  14. Web site: Los Angeles Lakers Sign Alex Fudge to Two-Way Contract. NBA.com. July 26, 2023. July 26, 2023.
  15. Web site: HEAT MAKE ROSTER MOVES. NBA.com. August 11, 2023. August 12, 2023.
  16. Web site: HEAT SIGN DRU SMITH TO STANDARD CONTRACT. NBA.com. October 21, 2023. October 21, 2023.
  17. Web site: Indiana Pacers Sign Freeman and Swider. NBA.com. August 8, 2024. August 8, 2024.