Xavier Cooks

2023 - 3 - 19

Post cover — Image courtesy of "ABC News"

Xavier Cooks makes NBA debut just days after winning NBL title ... (ABC News)

Fresh from leading the Sydney Kings to another NBL title, Xavier Cooks plays four minutes off the bench for the Washington Wizards in his NBA debut.

Cooks's fellow Australian Matthew Dellavedova got a rare cameo off the bench for the Kings, nailing a three-pointer in his four minutes on court for the Kings. He came off the bench for four minutes in the Wizards' 132-118 home loss to the high-flying Sacramento Kings. - Cooks came off the bench in the Washington Wizards' loss to the Sacramento Kings

NBL MVP Xavier Cooks makes cameo NBA debut for Wizards (South Coast Register)

Less than four days after leading the Sydney Kings to a second consecutive title with victory in Game 5 of the NBL grand final series, Cooks came off the bench ...

Cooks' countryman Matthew Dellavedova got a rare cameo off the bench for the Kings, nailing a three-pointer in his four minutes on court for the Kings. The Wizards (32-38) sit 11th in the eastern conference as they battle for a spot among the seventh to 10th-placed teams who will contest the NBA Play-In tournament. Less than four days after leading the Sydney Kings to a second consecutive title with victory in Game 5 of the NBL grand final series, Cooks came off the bench for four minutes in the Wizards' 132-118 home loss to the high-flying Sacramento Kings on Saturday.

Xavier Cooks ready to help Wizards after whirlwind road to NBA (NBC Sports)

The Wizards debuted their newest acquisition on Saturday night, just days after he won a championship in Australia.

The next few days and weeks will be a crash course for Cooks to learn the Wizards' playbook, terminology and the names of all his new colleagues. Cooks may take some time to get accustomed to the NBA and his new team on the court, but he already feels D.C. He also happens to have family in the D.C. "He has energy, a lot of the intangibles. A lot of times when you need a shot in the arm, you want a guy who can get to those 50-50 balls. He became the fifth-oldest player to make their debut in a Wizards/Bullets uniform at 27 years and 211 days old.