Cole Swider has worked ‘really hard’ on body, defense since last stint with Lakers

EL SEGUNDO, CA - SEPTEMBER 28: Cole Swider #50 of the Los Angeles Lakers poses for a portrait during NBA Media Day on September 28, 2026 at UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Four years ago, Cole Swider made his NBA debut for the Los Angeles Lakers, where he played seven games before bouncing across the Miami Heat, Detroit Pistons and Toronto Raptors for brief spells in 2023-24 and 2024-25. Last year, he spent the season in Europe playing for Anadolu Efes, making 51 combined appearances between EuroLeague and the Turkish Super League.

Now, he’s back with the Lakers on an Exhibit 10 contract and is eager to show how much he’s improved in numerous ways.

“I’ve worked really, really hard on my body. Shout out to my performance coaches, Nick Correa and Anthony Tingley. I’ve worked really, really hard on my body. I’ve tried to change a lot of things,” Swider told reporters. “I’ve worked with doctors. I worked with many, many different people. It’s mostly defensively, trying to figure that side of the basketball out at this level. And then just being a more dynamic shooter, being able to come off of pin downs and DHOs and being able to cause havoc on the court just with my spacing ability.”

Whether it be in college, Europe or the G League, Swider’s been an excellent outside shooter. He shot 38% from deep in college, 45% in the G League and 41% overseas. Thus far, though, those long-range credentials haven’t translated to the NBA, where he’s made only 32.9% (28-of-85) of his career attempts.

That’s a much smaller sample than everything else, however, so perhaps a larger sample and Swider’s diligent work will help him showcase his elite shooting in the Association. If he’s actually a high-level shooter and has made physical improvements to take strides defensively, his chances of sticking around in the league are much higher.

Swider didn’t play Monday night against the Sacramento Kings but saw 12 minutes of action Tuesday night against the Golden State Warriors and scored nine points on 3-of-7 shooting, including 3-of-4 beyond the arc. He also recorded two steals, two assists and two rebounds. He’ll hope to keep his torrid outside shooting going when the Lakers face the Kings Thursday night at home.

You can follow Jackson on Twitter at @jackfrank_jjf.