Lakers' former sharpshooter leaving NBA for contract in EuroLeague

His sharpshooting abilities haven't been quite enough to keep him in the NBA.

Cole Swider is heading overseas instead.

The 3-point sniper who spent this summer with the Los Angeles Lakers is nearing a deal with Turkish club Anadolu Efes, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.

Anadolu Efes competes in the EuroLeague, which is considered the second-best basketball league in the world. They're coached by former Suns head coach Igor Kokoskov.

Swider has played in the NBA for the Lakers, Heat, Pistons and Raptors.

He began his college career at Villanova, then starred in his final NCAA season at Syracuse.

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From there, he went undrafted but signed a two-way contract with the Lakers.

At the NBA level, he has had a very small sample size of 3-point attempts and show 32.9% on those shots.

But in the G League, Swider has been a deadeye marksman.

In 2022-23, Swider shot 43.6% from 3-point range. In 2023-24, he was up at 50%. And in 2024-25, Swider shot 44.1% from beyond the arc in the G League.

He lit it up in Summer League last month, too, but it wasn't enough to earn him a contract with the Lakers.

At 26 years old, this is Swider's best chance to advance his basketball career. If he shines in EuroLeague, he'll get another chance from an NBA team, if he wants it.

And even if the chance stateside isn't forthcoming, Swider will be playing at a high level of basketball against great competition.

One thing is almost for sure: Swider is going to knock down some shots from beyond the arc.

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