Delonte West – $16,000,000
At this point, Delonte West is best known for rumors that he allegedly had an intimate relationship with a teammate’s mom. While many NBA fans have laughed at this story, there’s nothing funny about the actual Delonte West story. West, who suffers from manic depression, and is bipolar, blew through the $16 million he earned during his eight-year NBA career.
During the 2011 NBA lockout, West was so strapped for cash, he applied for a job at Home Depot. Things only got worse from there. In 2016, he was reportedly spotted wandering around a Jack In The Box parking lot in Houston, wearing a hospital robe and no shoes.
Robert Swift – $11,000,000
His story of going broke, and the events afterward, are just as tragic as they are bizarre. Swift, a former high school star, was drafted by the Seattle Supersonics with the 12th overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft. It’s been reported that Swift’s parents convinced him to skip college and go straight to the NBA, after being seduced by the $4.4 million contract Swift was promised by Seattle.
Unfortunately, in his second season in the NBA, Swift tore his ACL, and was never the same player. Shortly after things fell apart on the court, his personal life took a turn for the worst. Swift blew his earnings on a combination of child support bills, substance abuse, and a $1.6 million home.
In 2013, cops were called to the home because Swift refused to leave, even though it had been foreclosed upon by the bank. Upon entering the home, the police reported it had been completely trashed, and found a “small arsenal of weapons.” Over the past few years, things have gotten worse for the troubled big man. Swift has been arrested multiple times for attempted robbery and drug related charges.