Robert Swift
Encyclopedia
Robert Swift is an American
professional basketball
player, currently playing for Tokyo Apache
. He stands 7 feet 1 inches tall and plays the center
position.
, and then later as the centerpiece of the Bakersfield High School
team.
During his time at Garces, the small Catholic high school broke into the USA Today
top-25 high school basketball team rankings. Between his junior and senior years, Swift transferred from Garces to Highland High School
, and then just before his senior year, he transferred to Bakersfield High School. This move provoked a hearing by the California Interscholastic Federation
that initially declared Swift ineligible for the 2003–04 season; however, this ruling was later overturned and he played his senior season.
.
in the first round with the twelfth overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft
. Robert Swift, whose father is half Japanese
(Okinawan), was the first player of Caucasian and Asian descent to be drafted straight out of high school.
In his first season he played in 16 games, averaging 4.5 minutes, 0.9 points, 0.4 rebounds, and 0.4 blocks per game. In his second season, under the direction of coach Bob Hill
, he started 20 out of 47 games, averaging 21 minutes, 6.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.19 blocks per game.
In 2006 Swift was awarded the starting job at center but he ruptured the ACL in his right knee after playing just over one minute in a pre-season game vs the Sacramento Kings
. The resulting injury occurred when he twisted his right knee when he fell and went out of bounds awkwardly in front of the Seattle bench. Swift suffered another injury to his right knee in February 2008, a torn lateral meniscus
.
On December 22, 2009, the Oklahoma City Thunder
renounced the rights to Swift.
of the NBDL. However, he left the team for personal reasons after appearing in two games. Swift now plays for the Tokyo Apache with his former head coach in Seattle
, Bob Hill
.
| align="left" | 2004–05
| align="left" | Seattle
| 16 || 0 || 4.5 || .455 || .000 || .556 || .3 || .1 || .1 || .4 || .9
|-
| align="left" | 2005–06
| align="left" | Seattle
| 47 || 20 || 21.0 || .515 || .000 || .582 || 5.6 || .2 || .3 || 1.2 || 6.4
|-
| align="left" | 2007–08
| align="left" | Seattle
| 8 || 4 || 12.3 || .353 || .000 || 1.000 || 2.3 || .1 || .6 || .8 || 1.8
|-
| align="left" | 2008-09
| align="left" | Oklahoma City
| 26 || 10 || 13.2 || .521 || .000 || .750 || 3.4 || .3 || .2 || .6 || 3.3
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 97 || 34 || 15.5 || .506 || .000 || .610 || 3.9 || .3 || .2 || .8 || 4.3
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player, currently playing for Tokyo Apache
Tokyo Apache
Tokyo Apache is a Japanese basketball club, based in the city of Tokyo, Kantō Region. They play in the bj league, the top-level Japanese professional League.Their home games are played at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium II, located at Shibuya, Tokyo....
. He stands 7 feet 1 inches tall and plays the center
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
position.
High school
Swift caught the attention of NBA and college scouts while playing for Garces Memorial High SchoolGarces Memorial High School
Garces Memorial High School, commonly shortened to Garces High School, is a Catholic high school in Bakersfield, California.Founded in 1947, the school is named after Father Francisco Garcés, a Spanish Franciscan friar and missionary who explored much of the southwestern part of North America,...
, and then later as the centerpiece of the Bakersfield High School
Bakersfield High School
]Bakersfield High School is a high school located in Bakersfield, California, USA.Institutional names and dates of operation:*Kern County High School 1893-1915*Kern County Union High School 1915-1945*Bakersfield High School 1945–present...
team.
During his time at Garces, the small Catholic high school broke into the USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
top-25 high school basketball team rankings. Between his junior and senior years, Swift transferred from Garces to Highland High School
Highland High School (Bakersfield, California)
Highland provides technology-based instruction across the curriculum. Highland just completed its sixth year of a full six year term of accreditation and will be visited this year. Advanced Placement and Honors classes are offered for juniors and seniors in English, calculus, statistics, math...
, and then just before his senior year, he transferred to Bakersfield High School. This move provoked a hearing by the California Interscholastic Federation
California Interscholastic Federation
The California Interscholastic Federation is the governing body for high school sports in the state of California. It mirrors similar governing bodies in other states; however, it differs from some of the others in that it covers most high schools in the state of California, both public and...
that initially declared Swift ineligible for the 2003–04 season; however, this ruling was later overturned and he played his senior season.
College
In 2004, Swift bypassed college and opted for the NBA, turning down his commitment to play for USCUniversity of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
.
NBA
Swift was selected by the Seattle SuperSonicsSeattle SuperSonics
The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...
in the first round with the twelfth overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft
2004 NBA Draft
The 2004 NBA Draft was held on June 24, 2004 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York and was broadcast live on ESPN at 7:00 pm . In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur college basketball players and other first-time eligible...
. Robert Swift, whose father is half Japanese
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
(Okinawan), was the first player of Caucasian and Asian descent to be drafted straight out of high school.
In his first season he played in 16 games, averaging 4.5 minutes, 0.9 points, 0.4 rebounds, and 0.4 blocks per game. In his second season, under the direction of coach Bob Hill
Bob Hill
Robert W. Hill is an American basketball coach. Hill grew up in Mount Sterling, Ohio moving to Worthington, Ohio for high school. Upon graduating from high School, Hill entered Bowling Green State University. Hill is currently the head coach of the Tokyo Apache in Japan...
, he started 20 out of 47 games, averaging 21 minutes, 6.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.19 blocks per game.
In 2006 Swift was awarded the starting job at center but he ruptured the ACL in his right knee after playing just over one minute in a pre-season game vs the Sacramento Kings
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
. The resulting injury occurred when he twisted his right knee when he fell and went out of bounds awkwardly in front of the Seattle bench. Swift suffered another injury to his right knee in February 2008, a torn lateral meniscus
Lateral meniscus
The lateral meniscus, also called the external semilunar fibrocartilage, is a fibrocartilaginous band that spans the lateral side of the interior of the knee joint. It is one of two menisci of the knee, the other being the medial meniscus. It is nearly circular and covers a larger portion of the...
.
On December 22, 2009, the Oklahoma City Thunder
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder are a professional basketball franchise based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ; their home court is at Chesapeake Energy Arena....
renounced the rights to Swift.
NBDL
In 2009, Swift joined the Bakersfield JamBakersfield Jam
The Bakersfield Jam is an expansion franchise of the National Basketball Association Development League that began play in 2006-07. It plays its home games at the newly-built Jam Events Center in Bakersfield, California, United States, which had been built as their practice facility...
of the NBDL. However, he left the team for personal reasons after appearing in two games. Swift now plays for the Tokyo Apache with his former head coach in Seattle
Seattle SuperSonics
The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...
, Bob Hill
Bob Hill
Robert W. Hill is an American basketball coach. Hill grew up in Mount Sterling, Ohio moving to Worthington, Ohio for high school. Upon graduating from high School, Hill entered Bowling Green State University. Hill is currently the head coach of the Tokyo Apache in Japan...
.
Regular season
|-| align="left" | 2004–05
| align="left" | Seattle
Seattle SuperSonics
The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...
| 16 || 0 || 4.5 || .455 || .000 || .556 || .3 || .1 || .1 || .4 || .9
|-
| align="left" | 2005–06
| align="left" | Seattle
| 47 || 20 || 21.0 || .515 || .000 || .582 || 5.6 || .2 || .3 || 1.2 || 6.4
|-
| align="left" | 2007–08
| align="left" | Seattle
| 8 || 4 || 12.3 || .353 || .000 || 1.000 || 2.3 || .1 || .6 || .8 || 1.8
|-
| align="left" | 2008-09
| align="left" | Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder are a professional basketball franchise based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ; their home court is at Chesapeake Energy Arena....
| 26 || 10 || 13.2 || .521 || .000 || .750 || 3.4 || .3 || .2 || .6 || 3.3
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 97 || 34 || 15.5 || .506 || .000 || .610 || 3.9 || .3 || .2 || .8 || 4.3