Cole Swider: Anadolu Efes in Turkey

[HyattsCuse]

cole swider is a summer league legend. i’m not sure how he hasn’t gotten legit opportunities yet. i watch the lakers A LOT and they could at least use him a few minutes a night. that tells me other teams can as well.


also off topic but seeing bazley in the summer league is oddly satisfying.

I can’t believe he shoots the way he does and no one has given him a chance. I don’t think there is any room with the Lakers though. They have a whole team of 6’5”-6’9” guys. Lebron, Luka, Reeves, Knecht, Vanderbilt, Hachimura, and they just signed the LaRavia kid off the top of my head. Not a lot of room for even a couple minutes there.

 

[Cuse99&01]

I can’t believe he shoots the way he does and no one has given him a chance. I don’t think there is any room with the Lakers though. They have a whole team of 6’5”-6’9” guys. Lebron, Luka, Reeves, Knecht, Vanderbilt, Hachimura, and they just signed the LaRavia kid off the top of my head. Not a lot of room for even a couple minutes there.

And they drafted Thiero

 

[SimonSays]

I can’t believe he shoots the way he does and no one has given him a chance. I don’t think there is any room with the Lakers though. They have a whole team of 6’5”-6’9” guys. Lebron, Luka, Reeves, Knecht, Vanderbilt, Hachimura, and they just signed the LaRavia kid off the top of my head. Not a lot of room for even a couple minutes there.

. i’m not bought into wake forest trash and there bench is nonexistent. vanderbilt would also never take swider’s minutes and vice versa totally two different guys. i see what ur saying but the minutes can be fit if its small and he shoots like he does

 

[SimonSays]

this lakers team has bazley. he would’ve been a dog at cuse.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

 

[Newhouser]

So what do we think/know that someone like Cole makes per year? He's a step ahead of Buddy on the pay scale correct?

 

[Cusefan0307]

Cole is better than Knecht.

Doubtful. Knecht played 78 games and averaged nearly 10 a game in less than 20 minutes. They are not the same type of player.

 

[RF2044]

Swiffer shooting the lights out tonight in summer league!

 

[Cuse99&01]

Swiffer shooting the lights out tonight in summer league!

He has been the best player on lakers roster so far this summer

 

[Cheriehoop]

Los Angeles Lakers vs Dallas Mavericks Jul 10, 2025 Box Scores

Los Angeles Lakers vs Dallas Mavericks Jul 10, 2025 player box scores including video and shot charts

www.nba.com

Cole Swider really did great for the Lakers, 22 points (6 for 9 from 3) and 10 rebounds. Cooper Flagg had a tough start to his career for Dallas. Didn’t see the game but the Lakers had to have blown it losing by 2 when they out rebounded them by 12, shot 39.5% from 3 to Dallas’s 32%. The lakers sucked from the free throw line though 54.5% for pros is horrible.

 

[Cuse99&01]

Los Angeles Lakers vs Dallas Mavericks Jul 10, 2025 Box Scores

Los Angeles Lakers vs Dallas Mavericks Jul 10, 2025 player box scores including video and shot charts

www.nba.com

Cole Swider really did great for the Lakers, 22 points (6 for 9 from 3) and 10 rebounds. Cooper Flagg had a tough start to his career for Dallas. Didn’t see the game but the Lakers had to have blown it losing by 2 when they out rebounded them by 12, shot 39.5% from 3 to Dallas’s 32%. The lakers sucked from the free throw line though 54.5% for pros is horrible.

Yeah 4 or 5 of those ft misses (including 2 by Swider) were in last couple minutes of the game.
Lakers had final possession with 19 secs left. Let Bronny dribble away the clock only to take and miss a deep step back contested 3.

 

[cliftonparksufan]

Los Angeles Lakers vs Dallas Mavericks Jul 10, 2025 Box Scores

Los Angeles Lakers vs Dallas Mavericks Jul 10, 2025 player box scores including video and shot charts

www.nba.com

Cole Swider really did great for the Lakers, 22 points (6 for 9 from 3) and 10 rebounds. Cooper Flagg had a tough start to his career for Dallas. Didn’t see the game but the Lakers had to have blown it losing by 2 when they out rebounded them by 12, shot 39.5% from 3 to Dallas’s 32%. The lakers sucked from the free throw line though 54.5% for pros is horrible.

I watched the first half. Of course, it was mostly about Cooper and Bronny. Both of them might have been trying to hard. Flagg played over 75% of the game and took 21 shots. Just crazy.

Swider brought his lunch pail to work. Another solid effort.

 

[im4cuse]

Yeah 4 or 5 of those ft misses (including 2 by Swider) were in last couple minutes of the game.
Lakers had final possession with 19 secs left. Let Bronny dribble away the clock only to take and miss a deep step back contested 3.

Of course Cole was 6-9 from 3 but they had to let the chosen one just aimlessly pound the rock then take a ridiculous contested brick. Cole also led everyone with 10 rebounds. I can’t stand watching the NBA but Hopefully someone gives him a real shot.

 

[im4cuse]

Of course Cole was 6-9 from 3 but they had to let the chosen one just aimlessly pound the rock then take a ridiculous contested brick. Cole also led everyone with 10 rebounds. I can’t stand watching the NBA but Hopefully someone gives him a real shot.

He also had best +\~ on both teams at +14. Bronny -9 the only Laker starter in negative. Bazley had some ok stats but 1-4 from line with as late costly miss.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

 

[Col. Bleep]

Cole Swider got a line of praise in the Athletic article about the first day of Summer league:

"Cole Swider can flat-out shoot the ball."

Short and sweet.

 

[sufandu]

I can’t believe he shoots the way he does and no one has given him a chance. I don’t think there is any room with the Lakers though. They have a whole team of 6’5”-6’9” guys. Lebron, Luka, Reeves, Knecht, Vanderbilt, Hachimura, and they just signed the LaRavia kid off the top of my head. Not a lot of room for even a couple minutes there.

Hasn't he been given a chance? Hasn't he been called up a number of times but had trouble getting on the floor?

His and Buddy's summer league/g league success speak to how difficult it is to make it at the highest level.

 

[BillSU]

Hasn't he been given a chance? Hasn't he been called up a number of times but had trouble getting on the floor?

His and Buddy's summer league/g league success speak to how difficult it is to make it at the highest level.

​

LA Lakers fans give verdict on Cole Swider's future after 22-point Summer League performance, 'Lights out shooter'

Should the Lakers place their trust in Cole Swider?

nbaanalysis.net

The Los Angeles Lakers engaged in an epic Summer League battle with the Dallas Mavericks.
All eyes were on the Bronny James vs Cooper Flagg matchup in the 2025 NBA Summer League. While Bronny had a decent game, it was another player who stole the show for the LA Lakers.

It was none other than California Classic Summer League standout Cole Swider, who put up 22 points, 10 rebounds, and 1 assist in 30 minutes of playing time in an 87-85 loss against the Dallas Mavericks.

Fans want LA Lakers to sign Cole Swider for 2025-26 NBA season
The 22-point scoring outburst marked Swider’s third game with at least 20 points in the 2025 Summer League.
While the Lakers still have multiple games left to be played in the tournament, many fans are convinced that the organization should offer Swider a permanent spot on the roster for the next season.

Cole Swider in 4 Summer League games:

24 PTS, 8 REB
20 PTS, 3 REB
15 PTS, 4 REB
22 PTS, 10 REB

Should the Lakers sign him? pic.twitter.com/it2SQDIKZs
— Lakers All Day Everyday (@LADEig) July 11, 2025

“Lights out shooter,” a fan wrote. While another added: “Yes it’s time he finally gets his chance.”
“Lakers need to sign Cole Swider IMMEDIATELY,” a third fan added.

Pros and cons of LA Lakers potentially signing Cole Swider

Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images

While it’s always great to see underrated players explode in the G League or Summer League, earning a spot in the NBA is not as easy as it may sound.
For starters, dominating in the Summer League is comparatively easier due to the lack of top talent in the competition. But let’s assume that the Lakers buy into the hype and sign him to a deal. Would it be a good decision?
Swider undoubtedly has the potential to be a rotational player for the Purple and Gold, thanks to his sensational three-point shooting ability. He could give the team an extra push from deep off the bench.
The Lakers ranked fifth in the league with 36.6% three-point shooting for the season. Adding Swider to the rotation will only help with getting better in that department.
But on the other hand, there’s a huge downside to signing Swider right now, as he cannot be offered a two-way deal due to his prior NBA experience.
Speaking of that experience, Swider has 35 games under his belt where he averaged just 3.1 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 0.3 assists per game. That means he has failed to succeed in the league previously, but, hey, who knows, he may get his breakthrough with the Lakers?
Los Angeles LakersNBA Summer LeagueWestern Conference News & Updates

 

[cuseattle]

He also had best +\~ on both teams at +14. Bronny -9 the only Laker starter in negative. Bazley had some ok stats but 1-4 from line with as late costly miss.

Bazley was +16 according to the box score posted above. The 10 rebounds for Cole is impressive.

 

[CardiacCuse]

Hasn't he been given a chance? Hasn't he been called up a number of times but had trouble getting on the floor?

His and Buddy's summer league/g league success speak to how difficult it is to make it at the highest level.

not getting on the floor = not getting a chance

 

[KevMonstah]

35 games, stats of blah blah blah. because the writer is too LAZY ...

in his first 27 games, he probably averaged 5 mins a game, if that. ya ain't doing much, though i suppose one could jack shots up like Flagg did, and maybe go 1-6 or 2-7.

in 8 games with Toronto, meaningful games for a team that went 30-52, went for about 20 min, and 7.4pts, 3rebs, and roughly 38% FG and 36% 3FG%. not bad, not great, but you could live with that. he makes half a field goal more a game on average, and he's on a roster. but get away from the rotten Lakers. garbage, garbage team, and i'd want nothing to do with a team where lebron is trying to get more for himself, get more for his kid, and doncic wants to establish himself there. nope. anywhere other than there if he could.

kev

 

[sufandu]

not getting on the floor = not getting a chance

You don't think coaches see guys in practice and decide who can help them in games? Are all 12th men not getting a chance? Remove the orange colored glasses.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Bazley was +16 according to the box score posted above. The 10 rebounds for Cole is impressive.

Cole needs to work on his handle, and he needs to work on his foot speed, side to side quickness. You can do drills to improve that. His lateral movement and handle have to both get much better if he ever wants to have a real shot in the NBA. He's a terrific shooter, and rebounds reasonably well. He's viable, if he can get better moving his feet and dribbling the ball. Watching Mintz in the early game, his lateral quickness on defense is much improved.

 

[CardiacCuse]

You don't think coaches see guys in practice and decide who can help them in games? Are all 12th men not getting a chance? Remove the orange colored glasses.

coaches have bias..and theres a lot that goes into who gets on the floor in the nBA especially beyond objectivity

an actual chance involves PLAYING TIME

I think that is true for all sports where a coach picks a lineup/controls playing time

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

You don't think coaches see guys in practice and decide who can help them in games? Are all 12th men not getting a chance? Remove the orange colored glasses.

There is not really much practicing in the sense of all out scrimmages during the season in the NBA.