Xavier Cooks

'Belongs among the best': NBL MVP becomes latest Aussie star to join NBA.

“I speak for the entire Kings family when I say we are thrilled for Xavier to take this next step to the NBA and realise his childhood dream,” Pongrass said in a statement. The 27-year old power forward will play out the remainder of the NBL championship series between Sydney and the New Zealand Breakers before he links up with the Wizards for the rest of the current NBA campaign and 2023/24 on a contract buyout. Another Aussie has joined the NBA, with Sydney Kings NBL MVP Xavier Cooks signing a two-year deal with the Washington Wizards.

Xavier Cooks will join the Washington Wizards after the Sydney Kings' final game of the NBL championship series against the New Zealand Breakers.

Cooks signed with the Kings in 2019 after playing professionally in Germany and two stints in the NBA Summer League. We thank X for his contribution to our club – he will forever be a King.” His new teammates are fighting for a spot in the play-offs.

Xavier Cooks' journey to the NBA has been a rollercoaster. But after earning a contract with Washington Wizards he knows even more hard work is required.

"The athletes are a lot closer to my athleticism than here in Australia. "They told me nothing is gonna be given to me; I'm gonna have to earn everything, and that's the way I love it." It was unbelievable to watch," Cooks said. He's 6'8, an elite athlete, and is among the only players in the NBL who can effectively switch one-through-five on the defensive end. He's the fifth player in as many seasons to sign an NBA contract following a stint with the Kings, joining Brian Bowen II, Andrew Bogut, Jae'Sean Tate, and Didi Louzada. Game 5 of the NBL Championship Series, if needed, will take place on March 15 in Sydney. "It's all about longevity for me," Cooks said. The Kings are in the midst of their second straight Championship Series, currently tied at 1-1. With every new obstacle, the idea of being an NBA player seemingly floated further and further away. Being selected in the final Australia Boomers team for the 2019 FIBA World Cup was supposed to be the launching pad, but an injury in training camp forced him out of that campaign. It was another injury, though -- this time to his foot -- that put a stop to what was supposed to be a breakout second season in Sydney. But, the road to earning that contract was far from easy for the 27-year-old.

The Wizards are signing Sydney Kings forward Xavier Cooks to a deal through the 2023-24 season, his agent told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski on Sunday.

In his fourth season there, he was the Finals MVP in 2021-22 and the league's MVP in 2022-23. Cooks has played for Chase Buford, a former coach of the year in the NBA G League with Wisconsin who led Sydney to a title last season. Cooks, a 6-foot-8 power forward, is regarded as a switching, versatile defender with excellent passing skills.

Newly-minted NBL MVP Xavier Cooks has signed with the Washington Wizards and will become the 11th Australian playing in basketball's premier competition.

Sydney Kings star Xavier Cooks will join the NBA at the conclusion of the NBL Championship Series, agreeing to a two-year deal with the Washington Wizards. * ['We've done nothing': NZ Breakers brace for a Sydney Kings NBL grand final response](https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/300822144/weve-done-nothing-nz-breakers-brace-for-a-sydney-kings-nbl-grand-final-response?rm=a) [Undermanned Sydney Kings stun NZ Breakers to level NBL grand final at 1-1](https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/300822663/undermanned-sydney-kings-stun-nz-breakers-to-level-nbl-grand-final-at-11?rm=a) Cooks – who played for the Wellington Saints in the New Zealand NBL last year – has been the form player of the NBL this season and was named the competition's MVP after guiding the Kings to a second-straight championship series. Sydney Kings star Xavier Cooks has signed his maiden NBA contract and will join the Washington Wizards at the conclusion of the ongoing NBL championship series.

The Wizards are signing Sydney Kings forward Xavier Cooks to a deal through the 2023-24 season, his agent told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski on Sunday.

In his fourth season there, he was the Finals MVP in 2021-22 and the league's MVP in 2022-23. Cooks has played for Chase Buford, a former coach of the year in the NBA G League with Wisconsin who led Sydney to a title last season. Cooks, a 6-foot-8 power forward, is regarded as a switching, versatile defender with excellent passing skills.

Xavier Cooks' journey to the NBA has been a rollercoaster. On its surface, the news of the reigning NBL MVP signing a two-year deal with the Washington Wizards on Monday morning was almost expected; Cooks was the best player on the best team in the ...

"The athletes are a lot closer to my athleticism than here in Australia. "They told me nothing is gonna be given to me; I'm gonna have to earn everything, and that's the way I love it." It was unbelievable to watch," Cooks said. He's 6'8, an elite athlete, and is among the only players in the NBL who can effectively switch one-through-five on the defensive end. He's the fifth player in as many seasons to sign an NBA contract following a stint with the Kings, joining Brian Bowen II, Andrew Bogut, Jae'Sean Tate, and Didi Louzada. Game 5 of the NBL Championship Series, if needed, will take place on March 15 in Sydney. "It's all about longevity for me," Cooks said. The Kings are in the midst of their second straight Championship Series, currently tied at 1-1. With every new obstacle, the idea of being an NBA player seemingly floated further and further away. Being selected in the final Australia Boomers team for the 2019 FIBA World Cup was supposed to be the launching pad, but an injury in training camp forced him out of that campaign. It was another injury, though -- this time to his foot -- that put a stop to what was supposed to be a breakout second season in Sydney. But, the road to earning that contract was far from easy for the 27-year-old.

Washington reportedly agreed to a deal with the star forward from the reigning NBL champion Sydney Kings on Sunday.

What strengths and weaknesses will the 27-year-old Australian forward bring to the NBA?

The Wizards also have made a significant investment in Avdija, using the ninth pick in the 2020 NBA Draft on him and working to develop him over his first three seasons. [Kyle Kuzma](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/kyle-kuzma-7x2ASMz0sv4qdd7u/) and [Kristaps Porziņģis](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/kristaps-porziis-iXclBS6oo11am7Ru/). He can play within ball screens with the ball in his hand and make strong passing reads that way, but I think the more likely way this will bear itself out in the NBA is how he attacks closeouts. [Torrey Craig](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/torrey-craig-90lUfTONMRqAMr4h/) has transitioned well from the NBL as a defense-first player at 6-foot-8 or so and earned his way into NBA rotational status. [Jae’Sean Tate](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/jaesean-tate-fg6nYfCW1AXxn6jS/) is another similar, smaller player who went the NBL route and proved himself as a “winning plays” guy. Cooks is a legit switchable player who should be able to manage a lot of different matchups one through four as long as he can manage the strength side of things. He won the MVP award this season and should have been a finalist for the defensive player of the year award as well. He returned to the NBL this season, and it was immediately evident he was one of the best players in the league. Teams had a lot of questions regarding how he would be a threat to put the ball in the basket at the NBA level. [Xavier Cooks](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/xavier-cooks-m1jnyZW0OtxNf246/), a 27-year-old forward from the Sydney Kings of the National Basketball League, the top men’s professional league in Australia and New Zealand, [a league source confirmed to The Athletic](https://twitter.com/JoshuaBRobbins/status/1632480392728006657). From there, he decided to go the college route in 2014 and attended Winthrop. [went to Saint Mary’s in the 1980s](https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/eric-cooks-1.html) before pursuing a professional career in Australia.