By Alex Madrid / info@eurohoops.net
Robert Swift was chosen in the 2004 Draft by the Seattle Supersonics at number 12, ahead of players like Al Jefferson or JR Smith. Swift had problems with justice for illegal possession of weapons and problems with drugs and he even went to prison.
Fourteen years after that, the center has joined Circulo Gijon Baloncesto y Conocimiento from the Spanish fifth category and Marca talked to the former NBA player.
“I had five coaches in five years, two owners, two cities, two teams, but I never changed from franchise. My position, my way of playing is also very specific about a style of play. When I left the NBA I was looking for having fun again, which was something I was not getting with the professionals “.
When he left Oklahoma, Swift tried his luck in the D League and the Japanese League, before returning to the States, where he didn’t find his place: “I had two tests for NBA teams that went well but in the end I didn’t get the contract and that’s when I left basketball.”
Mike Huete, one of his closest friends, encouraged the former NBA to join the Spanish team:
“Mike is here and he’s been telling me since he arrived that he loves all this. He loves the city (Gijon), the people… I wanted to come to a place where I really wanted to be, and where I could be able to help the team immediately and this seemed like a great opportunity. ”
This could be an opportunity to redeem himself: “I think this will bring more happiness to my life, to be playing. I would also like to train children, I believe that I can have an impact on the lives of people and that’s what I want, as well as improving and moving forward in life“, Swift added.
Photo Credit: Marca