Player Recap: Cole Swider

No player shot the ball like Cole Swider did in the NBA G League this season. No player in franchise history shot the long-ball like Swider, as well.

With doubles and even triple teams constantly, he found ways to improve his overall game and continue winning ways in Sioux Falls.

The HEAT two-way player earned a trip to the 2024 NBA G League All-Star game. Swider impacted winning like no other, as the Skyforce boasted an 11-3 record with him in the lineup during the regular season.

“Obviously he’s a great shooter but I think one of the things about his game is his rebounding improvements,” Skyforce head coach Kasib Powell said. “Seeing him do other things besides being a shooter to elevate and expand his game is something we really appreciated. He’s been great with us, and we look forward to see him to continue making success in the future."

He also secured the best statistical shooting regular season in Skyforce history, becoming the first player to shoot 50+ 3P% with over 50+ 3PM (66-123 3PA). He finished the regular season with an insane 24.9 points on 51.4 FG%, 50.0 3P% (4.7-9.4 3PA), 8.6 rebounds (an uptick of almost four compared to his rookie season with the South Bay Lakers), 3.1 assists and eight double doubles in 21 appearances.

The only other player in Sioux Falls history to shoot over 45 3P% with a minimum of 50 makes? Duncan Robinson. Quite the company to be in, no doubt about it. The two get compared a lot by HEAT fans, due to their world-class shooting. Although they have games that differ a lot, there's also a lot to compare.

Robinson posted a stat-line of 21.4 points on 51.4 FG%, 48.3 3P% (4.8-9.8 3PA), 4.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 33 appearances. If Swider appeared in the same amount of games as Robinson this past season, his stat-line would be 24.5 points on 48.7 FG%, 47.1 3P% 7.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists.

That's a lot to be excited about if you are a HEAT fan.

“It’s been amazing,” Swider said of his time in the HEAT organization, “When you see guys like you be successful in the NBA it gives you a different set of confidence. So Duncan, obviously Max’s (Strus) success in the past, even guys like Gabe Vincent and Orlando Robinson who’ve gotten contracts that started out as two-way players.”

HIs impact started in the Showcase Cup, as he averaged 23.6 points on 43.5 FG%, 42.3 3P%, 5.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists per 36.3 minutes. Swider posted two games of 30+ points, highlighted by a 34-point performance on 9-14 3PA, five-rebound and six-assist game on Nov. 21 at Wisconsin.

He would really hit his stride in the regular season, scoring 18+ points in every game and finding a knack to rebound the basketball. Without Swider in ManMan WIlliams' franchise record breaking game of 55 points and 20+ point comeback, the latter does not happen. He went off for a career-high 37 points on 7-11 3PA, 12 rebounds and three assists on Jan. 7 against Salt Lake City.

Swider finished the regular season with seven double doubles in his last nine games, highlighted by a 33-point (8-11 3PA), 11-rebound double-double on Mar. 29 against Stockton.

During that stretch, he averaged 9.8 rebounds, which is good for a top-15 placing during that time in the NBA G League. Of those 15 players, he led them in points per game and three-point percentage.

“They tell me to shoot the ball every time I touch it,” Swider said. “So, I’m trying to get open looks, trying to take the right shots, but at the same time when the rim feels big like that you want to do whatever it takes to win the game. Winning is what translates to the NBA and if you can win and also get the numbers, it means the world."