Cole Swider

Cole Alexander Swider, born on May 8, 1999, is an established professional basketball player in America. Currently doing superbly in a two-way contract with the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA G League, Swider has made impressive strides in his career, eliciting intrigue and admiration from fans and critics alike.

Raised in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, Swider had a normal childhood statistically, until he began attending the St. Andrew’s School. As a teenager, his impressive athleticism, coupled with his strategic ingenuity on the court, caught the attention of fans and sports analysts. His junior year marked him as a notable figure in his home state, as he garnered the Rhode Island Gatorade Player of the Year award after achieving an average of 26.5 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.9 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game.

Swider’s senior season performance, with an impressive average of 31 points per game, maintained a steady rise, solidifying his reputation as a formidable forward. The four-star recruit had the option of joining Syracuse, Xavier, or Duke but elected to venture into college basketball with Villanova.

Swider started his college basketball career at Villanova, where he played in 31 games and found himself in the starting lineup 15 times during his sophomore season, managing an average of 6.1 points and 2.9 rebounds per game. As a junior, he maintained consistent performance, participating in every one of Villanova’s matches and averaging 5.7 points and 2.8 rebounds per game. After this season, Swider seized the opportunity to enter the NCAA transfer portal.

Choosing to shift to Syracuse for a fresh start in his college sports career, Swider took on the role of the Orange’s starting power forward. In this position, he executed an average of 13.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game. After the completion of the season, Swider decided to step up his game by announcing that he would be signing up for the 2022 NBA draft and hiring an agent.

Swider’s dreams of playing in the NBA materialized when he signed a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Lakers on July 1, 2022, when he went unselected in the 2022 NBA draft. This arrangement involved splitting his time with their G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers. Despite being relatively new to the NBA scene, Swider was included in the L.A. Lakers’ 2022 NBA Summer League roster. During his Summer League debut, he exhibited his talent with a score of thirteen points, six rebounds, and a block contributing significantly to the 100–66 win against the Miami Heat.

However, on July 26, 2023, the Lakers decided to waive Swider. This unexpected turn of events did not deter him. On August 11, 2023, he was signed by the Miami Heat. By October 21, this professional arrangement had been adjusted into a two-way contract.

Through the course of his basketball journey, Cole Swider has displayed resilience, adaptability, and a relentless pursuit of excellence, making him a standout player, leaving basketball enthusiasts anticipating his next move.