Stromile Swift


Stromile Emanuel Swift is an American retired professional basketball player. At 6'10" and 220 lbs, he played the power forward and center positions.

Basketball career

College and early NBA career with the Vancouver/Memphis Grizzlies

Swift spent his college career at Louisiana State University, where he led the Tigers to the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament his sophomore year, during the time when the LSU men's basketball program was under probation and had limited scholarships available. Swift was selected second overall in the 2000 NBA draft by the Vancouver Grizzlies and was still with the team during its 2000 move to Memphis.
He competed in the 2001 Slam Dunk Competition against Baron Davis, DeShawn Stevenson, Corey Maggette, Desmond Mason and Jonathan Bender. Swift placed fourth as Mason, of the Seattle SuperSonics, won the competition.

Houston Rockets

After the 2004–05 season, he left the Grizzlies as a free agent and signed a four-year, $22 million contract with the Houston Rockets. At the time of his departure to Houston for the 2005–06 season, Swift was the last remaining player on the Grizzlies roster to have moved with the team from Vancouver.

Second stint with Grizzlies

In 2006, he was traded back to the Memphis Grizzlies along with the rights to the #8 draft pick Rudy Gay in exchange for Shane Battier, in a draft day trade. For some time, he was their starting center.

New Jersey Nets

On February 4, 2008, Stromile Swift was traded to the New Jersey Nets for Jason Collins and cash considerations. Four days later, Swift played his first minutes with the Nets, scoring his first basket late in the game, on a jumper, against the Charlotte Bobcats. In the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, on February 12, he scored on an alley-oop dunk from Jason Kidd, in the only game they would see time on the court together in a Nets uniform, as Kidd would be traded to the Dallas Mavericks shortly thereafter.
On March 1, 2009 Swift was waived by the Nets.

Phoenix Suns

On March 4, 2009 the Suns signed Swift for the remainder of the season.

Philadelphia 76ers

Stromile Swift signed with the 76ers in September 2009, but was released on October 12, 2009.

Shandong Lions

Swift signed with the Shandong Lions of the Chinese Basketball Association in December 2009, and made his debut the same month.

NBA career statistics

Regular season

Playoffs