Former Sonic loses home to foreclosure, refuses to leave
SEATTLE -- Former Seattle Sonic Robert Swift made a reported $20 million during his NBA career, but things haven't gone as well for the first-round draft pick in recent years.
Swift lost his home to foreclosure, but apparently refuses to leave.
"And it seems like a very sad story and I definitely feel for him," said the new owner, who wanted to hide her identity.
She thought she knew what she was getting when she bought the foreclosed home in January.
Cans of beer dot the grass outside the home. A bullet hole pierced the garage window at some point.
"Cars that don't look like they've moved in a long time," she noted.
Water festers in buckets outside of what was once a million dollar home in a wealthy Eastside suburb.
"And found out who the lovely, previous owner was," the owner said.
Property and court records show that owner was Robert Swift, the Sonics number-one draft pick in 2004.
He played for Seattle, Oklahoma City, and eventually in Japan. But despite making a reported $20 million playing hoops, the Problem Solvers found records showing Swift's home fell into foreclosure last summer.
The new owner bought it in January for nearly half the original price.
KOMO News tried to speak with Swift on Wednesday, and a woman who said she was his girlfriend said he couldn't come out because he was sleeping.
The new owner has gone to court and, according to records, Swift has gone past his grace period to leave.
He has one final deadline at the end of the month. After that, he faces possible eviction by force.
"He will have to respond to the sheriff I'm sure," the new owner said.
Swift was once a star on the hardwood. Now the new owner of the house wants the game to end.
"We feel like we're stuck until he moves."
Because the owner has filed a summons, Swift has one week to respond. The owner says she will go to the King County Sheriff's Office if the home isn't emptied.
Swift lost his home to foreclosure, but apparently refuses to leave.
"And it seems like a very sad story and I definitely feel for him," said the new owner, who wanted to hide her identity.
She thought she knew what she was getting when she bought the foreclosed home in January.
Cans of beer dot the grass outside the home. A bullet hole pierced the garage window at some point.
"Cars that don't look like they've moved in a long time," she noted.
Water festers in buckets outside of what was once a million dollar home in a wealthy Eastside suburb.
"And found out who the lovely, previous owner was," the owner said.
Property and court records show that owner was Robert Swift, the Sonics number-one draft pick in 2004.
He played for Seattle, Oklahoma City, and eventually in Japan. But despite making a reported $20 million playing hoops, the Problem Solvers found records showing Swift's home fell into foreclosure last summer.
The new owner bought it in January for nearly half the original price.
KOMO News tried to speak with Swift on Wednesday, and a woman who said she was his girlfriend said he couldn't come out because he was sleeping.
The new owner has gone to court and, according to records, Swift has gone past his grace period to leave.
He has one final deadline at the end of the month. After that, he faces possible eviction by force.
"He will have to respond to the sheriff I'm sure," the new owner said.
Swift was once a star on the hardwood. Now the new owner of the house wants the game to end.
"We feel like we're stuck until he moves."
Because the owner has filed a summons, Swift has one week to respond. The owner says she will go to the King County Sheriff's Office if the home isn't emptied.
Take a kid out of high school and put him into pro sports - he never had a chance to grow up before being tossed into the fray. That's what it sounds like to me. Not that I expect anything more from "professional" sports where players are just another commodity to be bought and sold and tossed out when used up.
He's well known to be a druggie from his NBA days. Look at the chick who answered the door..pretty hot. nd he's nasty and broke- that alone spells D R U G S
The people that bought this house purchased at auction..sold as where is, and with the understanding they were inheriting the responsibity of the tenant with the purchase, it was a great under market deal they got. They are playing on the media to make them look as if they are victims, get out of the game of buying forclosures if you cant play with the big boys. This house is what the majority of distressed properties look like when the bank gets them back. If they were afraid to get their hands dirty they should have never bought a forclosed house. Stop whinning and move on. Â
Why do you have to show that. The kid is down on his luck and publishing that is not going to help. We all have downturn. It does not have to be exposed like this. What's the pointÂ
@METOO  Why not? He's nobody special. Yahoo sports, Foxsports, ESPN, sportingnews, bleacher report have all done stories on other NBA players, NFL players who have squandered millions. If Siwft didn't want to be exposed, as you put it, then he should have left the house. Or how about this, maybe he should've gone to college and worked on his game while getting a degree. I have no sympathy for him....stupid thug.
I USED TO LIVE THERE WITH THE FAMILY!! I cant believe he is going to such extremes!! I met my husband on that front step, lived there for a short time with my friend till I moved in with my husband..
I guess he needs to get a job and an apartment. What is he,27 years old??? No big deal.
poor ol prick
He was sleeping? Oh dear..maybe he should WAKE UP and smell the coffee.
Robert Swift looks like your typical occupy protestor fighting the evil banks.
These idiots at KOMO have no idea wtf they are talking about. As a professional basketball player he made approx 11.5 Million dollars before taxes over the course of 5 NBA seasons and 1 overseas(Tokyo) season. How do you know if he didn't have millions in the stock market when it crashed? All you are idiots for judging him. I agree he's a messy person and perhaps a little disrespectful but hey, this is Washington, yet another West Coast state full of rich snobs. You don't even know how he lost his money or what he spent it on, for all you know he did lose it in the stock market or over the years just blew it all on whatever he wanted. This news station surely wants to get credit for slandering a name and all you idiots are just putting in your two cents. Go do something productive, we all know you people commenting didn't get drafted to a pro league straight out of high school and we surely know you haven't made 11.5 Million. STFU and move on with your mediocre lives.
@Fyouropinion Thanks for the input, Robert!
@beno @Fyouropinion I know what he spent his money on.. guns, snakes and cars lol
If it was truly "hard earned" money maybe he would take more care and pride in the things he purchases
School couldn't wait to see him become a star. No one prepared him for reality. For life. I can imagine he must feel real down. To be on the top and not many years later all of the people who thought you were so cool are not anywhre around to help. Doesn't anyone care anymore. People just seem to use people. Â I can't stand people most of the time. Maybe he has nowhere to go? Or yeah it could be he's having a hard time letting go. But this has got to be embarrassing for him. Why would anyone do this? Most of the comments here sound like they are coming from grade school bullies. Assh*les!
If you wanna meet him hes at the "Joker Pub" in Issaquah everynight getting WASTED!!... LMAO!!!
He also hangs at the POUR HOUSE in North Bend!
dam haft of the people responding to this is as dumb as he is
Says the guy that spells "damn" , "DAM" and  "half" , "HAFT" ... puaahahahhahahhaah!!!!
@Eastside_seattlite And uses the singular word is when referring to multiple people, and doesn't know to capitalize the first word of a sentence, and doesn't know how to use punctuation anywhere.Â
But other than averaging about one error per two words, Â and its utterly pointless context it was a pretty darn good comment, right?
I have seen Trailer Parks cleaner than the surroundings of this house.
Where has this city's Code Enforcement been all these years?
At my house messing with me
Petty problem solving.
Same old song! People who spend their money like there's no tomorrow! Big lesson over and over and over..................get a job!
What did he waste his money on? Jack Clark didn't blow it THAT fast.
As a young person with two sons to raise alone in numerous rental homes over the years, I made myself a promise to never let a home we lived in look like a rental home in bad shape. Â I felt a responsibility to my landlord and neighbors. Â It is something I upheld to my sons to carry-on in their lives. Â Only hope and wish others would do the same with pride.
Do you need to rent a home, cause I have one for you.
@Judy Harrison Maybe you should walk a mile in someone else's shoes.
You're gonna need 10 pounds of Lye, Zip Ties, A Shovel, and borrow a friends car (a reliable nondescript car with a trunk).....
Cocaine is a hell of a drug!
@spicypants OMG! SPICYpants!!!
11 million dollars is a hell of a lot of cocain, but then again he does have a really big nose!
Most pro athletes make too much money before they know how to handle it. It's bass ackwards.
I'm struggling and still making it,wake up?
@Margie Bucher Others are struggling and not making it. Different circumstances. Just the way things are sometimes. I know I can't afford rent and I'm alone and no bills. My cell is $30. a month. My income is just under $700. I don't live in Seattle. In fact I'm on the Peninsula. In my hometown. Where can you find a plce to rent on my income? And I can't spend it all on rent you know. There's water & sewer. Lights. Heat. Gas for my vehicle. Food. I haven't bought new clothes in 10 years. Hell I can't even afford shopping at Goodwill where I live.
But you can afford to be on a computer. Good for you Laverne!
1 game should almost pay for that house!
I looked him up. He played 97 games. $206,185.56 a game!
@Sean Thompson He let it all get away. Too bad. I hate to think he might commit suicide over this. It's only stuff and well, status. But so what? Right? Lotsa people have to start over.  He might want to change his outlook or seek help. Mental health help.
@Laverne Swanson do you even KNOW him or his FAMILY.. I personally do.. and you have NO IDEA!
I partied with him on several occations (no drugs, just lots of beer), and he didn't seem that bad. Hell, I'm a bit envious, I'd probably do the same thing given half a chance. Even if he is broke, what a life he's lived already. He's just a really big kid. For being famous, he treated my friends and I like human beings.Â
I bet he trashes it even more before he goes
20 Million $$$ and he couldnt make payment. Judging on the cars in the driveway he didn't spend that money foolishly on high priced BMW's. Hee must have spent on blow or women.
Again another reason these guys are all overpaid.
He was in my history class
@Amanda Lewis And?
Did he pass? out
@todd I agree, but lets be honest most kids at that age think they already know everything. Goes one ear and out the other
I went to high school with him.
@Amanda Lewis So it probably hits close to home for you? No pun intended. Gotta be careful what ya say. These folks are brutal!
@Amanda Lewis So?