2004 first-round pick Robert Swift signs with Tokyo Apache

Robert Swift, the 12th overall selection in the 2004 NBA Draft, will be continuing his basketball career in Japan after signing with Tokyo Apache.

Drafted out of high school by the Seattle Supersonics in an effort to fortify its front-court, the 7-foot-1 Swift was slow to develop and maligned by injuries during his four seasons with the team.

The Supersonics, now Oklahoma City Thunder, never quite got the impact player they thought they would when they selected Swift, missing out on productive NBA players such as Al Jefferson, Josh Smith, J.R. Smith, Jameer Nelson, Kevin Martin and Anderson Varejao.

Swift's best year came during the 2005-06 season when he averaged 6.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg and 1.2 bpg in 47 games for the Supersonics.

It appeared that Swift my enjoy a breakout seasons the following year, but ruptured the ACL in his right knee during a pre-season game against the Sacramento Kings and never seemed to recover.

Since then, Swift has made brief appearances in a number of basketball circles including a two-game stint with the Bakersfield Jam of the D-League.

Joining Swift on the Tokyo Apache roster is another recent signee, Jeremy Tyler.

Tyler, a touted 6-foot-11 forward who left high school after his junior year to pursue a basketball career abroad instead of going the collegiate route, signed with the Japanese club earlier in the month.

© 2010 Neal J. Leitereg -- All Rights Reserved