AOL FanHouse writer Tom Ziller reports that former Seattle Supersonics' 12th overall draft pick of the 2004 draft, Robert Swift, is apparently done with basketball.
The tale of Robert Swift might be the most sad of all recent lottery busts, if only because of where Swift is today. The 7-foot redhead was Seattle's top pick in the 2004 draft, the 12th choice overall. The kid battled injury and alienation, barely getting on the court in five seasons with the Sonics/Thunder franchise. When he did, he was underwhelming, at his "peak" averaging 11 points and 10 rebounds per 36 minutes.
This year, Swift couldn't find an NBA job and made his way to his hometown Bakersfield Jam of the D-League. The Jam, of course, have their own vaguely neocolonial issues, but apparently the basketball wasn't working out for Swift there. After two games, Swift abandoned the Jam. His coach, Will Voigt, thinks Swift might be done with the sport forever.
I mentioned earlier this season that the Nuggets should look at Swift as a possible end of the bench guy with some upside since he's just 24 years-old, but I'm not quite sure after reading the article if Swift's heart is in basketball anymore.
Swift came into the league looking like a farm boy and then underwent a pretty radical transformation after sitting out with his torn ACL ... see for yourself:
via jugones.files.wordpress.com
It's almost as if Swift was begging to play for the Nuggets. All jokes aside ... it's sad to see the kid out of basketball as he becomes yet another bust. The article states that he's made over $11 million in his career so I don't feel too bad for him. I wonder if he'll make a comeback attempt after getting away from the game for a little while.
