Parents of fallen $20m NBA star who fled filthy foreclosed home 'fell into trap of chasing the money', claims his high school coach

By DANIEL BATES

Published: 09:02 EST, 11 March 2013 | Updated: 09:46 EST, 11 March 2013

The fallen basketball star who fled his filthy foreclosed home joined the NBA straight out of high school after his parents appeared to ‘fall into the trap of chasing the money’, his former high school basketball coach claimed today.

Gino Lacava believes Bruce and Rhonda Swift were influenced by the $4.4m offer Seattle Sonics made for their son Robert even though he was just 18.

Mr Lacava, who is still the boys basketball coach at Garces High School in Bakersfield, California, said Robert should have gone to college instead as it would have been far better for him.

'27 and broke': Swift's high school coach Gino Lacava feels 'horrible' after the downfall of such a bright prospect who joined the NBA at 18 (left) and seemed to spiral into a chaotic lifestyle with a few years (right)

And in a blunt assessment of Robert’s life now he said: ‘He is 27 and he’s broke. 

Mentor: Lacava said that at 17 he knew that Swift 'had what it takes' for the NBA

‘He was a millionaire and he’s broke and he has 50 years of his life to try and make ends meet...

‘...I feel horrible for him’.

Robert was forced to leave his $1.4m home in Sammamish, WA, just over a week ago because he owed $168,000 on his mortgage despite earning $20m during his career, 

MailOnline has been told that he became a ‘target’ because of his fame and wealth and was milked dry by ‘curiosity seekers’.

He is understood not made a payment on his $1m mortgage in two years and spent his final weeks in squalor surrounded by 100 pizza boxes and more than 1,000 bottles of liquor. 

Robert’s life looked all so different back in the early 2000s when he spent three years at Garces before moving to Bakersfield High School in his junior year.

Mr Lacava, 48, said that by the age of 16 Robert was already 7ft tall and that he ‘knew he had what it takes’

Mr Lacava said that he talked to Robert around 50 times about what he should do with his future and that he found him to be humble and respectful at all times.

Former NBA star Robert Swift has finally moved out of his million-dollar home but has left behind slum-like conditions

Sqaulor: Swift is understood not to have made a payment on his $1m mortgage in two years and spent his final weeks surrounded by 100 pizza boxes and more than 1,000 bottles of liquor

He said that at the start of the three years Robert seemed intent on going to college - he had an offer from the University of Southern California - but by his junior year things had changed.

Mr Lacava said one factor that may have changed Robert’s mind was that some of the guys he played with in the AAU league, which takes place in the offseason of the academic year, had gone straight to the NBA.

Another factor was his parents who Mr Lacava described as ‘middle class at best’ and ‘not well to do by any means’.

Bruce, 50, is an air conditioning mechanic. His mother Rhonda is 57.

Mr Lacava said: ‘I honestly think the parents did want him to go to the NBA.

‘They got tied in with these AAU coaches who were constantly throwing around free offers and shoes and all the money and I think to them...it seemed like free money.

Unfulfilled: Lacava believes Swift should have gone to college to grow physically and mentally

‘We (Mr Lacava and Robert’s parents) did talk. It seemed that they fell into the trap of chasing the money.’

Talking about Robert’s life now, Mr Lacava said: ‘He is 27. He is 27 and he’s broke. He was a millionaire and he’s broke and he has 50 years of his life to try and make ends meet.

‘I feel horrible for him. He was a well rounded, polite young man when he was at school. Whatever has happened past that is beyond me...

‘...there is no question it would have been better if he went to college.

‘He could have built up his strength, got some schooling under his belt so that if he washed out he could have gone back and finished at a later date.

‘There no negative about going to college but there is money about if you are going to the (NBA) league.’

Mr Lacava admitted that it ‘wasn’t a surprise’ when Robert washed out and did not make it in the NBA.

He said: ‘His body was so frail and if you are 7ft tall at 16 your body has some growing to do. That NBA schedule is rigorous and it doesn’t take much to hurt you

‘Me and the other coaches were all thinking the same thing, that Robert had definitely nothing to to lose by going to college for a few years.’

Robert left the Sonics in 2008 after four injured-plagued seasons and went to the D-League, basketball's minor league, before two years at a North West regional league.

Change: Swift underwent huge change when he joined the NBA as a 'well rounded' teenager. Lacava puts it down to the 'enormous pressure' of the NBA puts on young men

He finished his playing days in Japan, but Mr Lacava said that he could still be out there on the court if he got into shape.

Robert’s exact whereabouts are now unknown but he is thought to be staying with friends in the Seattle area.

He has grown distant from his family and his little sister Samantha, 21 has resorted to watching the TV news to find out what is happening in his life.

Mr Lacava said that if he saw Robert today he would give him a big hug and say: ‘Big guy, I’m here for you, I always have been’.

‘What can you say? The damage is already done’.

‘He is only 27 so he could be playing in Europe, playing for a few years and getting back into it. If he could cut it in the NBA he could still be playing somewhere’.

Mr Lacava added that there should be a Veterans style organisation set up by the NBA to help people like Robert cope when things don’t work out.

He said: ‘It’s very unfortunate that there is not some kind of programme set up...

‘...It’s terrifying. I think there is way too much pressure put on these kids.

‘There is no way that families that are not well to do or smart should be able to make decisions like that.’

MailOnline has reached out to Bruce and Rhonda and asked Samantha to pass on contact details of our reporter, but they have not yet been in touch.