Xavier Cooks might effectively be Australia’s subsequent NBA participant however the Sydney Kings star isn’t counting his chickens simply but.
In his fourth season with the Kings, Cooks has emerged because the group’s predominant man after star imports Jaylen Adams, Jarell Martin and Ian Clark departed the Kings following their NBL title win final season.
The Kings have a brand new look line-up this season with Cooks and new import Derrick Walton Jr forming a deadly one-two punch in a group boasting enviable depth down the roster.
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In the house stretch of the common season, the Kings are on high of the NBL ladder and are the favourites to win back-to-back championships although many imagine they haven’t even reached high gear but.
Cooks, final 12 months’s Grand Final MVP, is without doubt one of the MVP contenders together with South East Melbourne’s Mitch Creek and Cairns Taipans’ star Keanu Pinder.
The 27-year-old has lengthy been touted as an NBA-calibre participant and if all goes effectively, he might end up on the Kings with two championships to his title and get snapped up by an NBA group.
Cooks is conscious at his age it’s almost now-or-never to make the transfer to the US, however main the Kings to a different championship would make NBA franchises sit up and take discover.
“To be honest with you, if I don’t make it after this season it’s going to be pretty tough to do it,” he informed news.com.au of his hopes of creating it to the NBA.
“I’m not a spring chicken anymore. I’m about to be 28 years old next year. My window’s now. If it doesn’t happen after this year, it doesn’t happen.
“But I think my path to the NBA is winning another championship here and showing my value to a team.”
Asked if he plans to play within the NBA’s low season Summer League or if he has a desire of group he’d like to hitch in a perfect world, Cooks stated he’s specializing in profitable one other title with the Kings and isn’t wanting that far forward.
“I honestly have not thought about that (for) one second,” he stated.
“People keep asking me what I’m doing in the off-season and I have no idea who we’re playing in three games time.
“I don’t know how I’m going to think that far ahead. I don’t really think about it too much.”
Cooks is in career-best type and admitted he’s enjoying “pretty well” in the mean time.
“I’ve really started to find a rhythm on this team. I really know my role on the team,” he stated.
“Obviously it helps when the guys play well around me, make my job a lot easier. Credit to those guys. I’ve been pretty solid.”
Cooks’ versatility is arguably his best asset however he has proven severe aptitude, throwing down two monster one-handed poster dunks this season.
Forbes’ NBA author Mark Deeks believes the 203cm ahead has a future within the NBA, likening Cooks to Juan Toscano-Anderson, who received a title final season coming off the bench for the Golden State Warriors.
“He (Cooks) has become Australia’s highlight reel,” Deeks wrote.
“Big dunks are becoming a regular occurrence, and with his NBA length, athleticism and burst, he can crush it on anyone.
“As Juan Toscano-Anderson proved in his fairytale rise to the rotation with the same Warriors team that had Cooks on its radar, if you have an NBA physical profile, you will be found. And Cooks does.
“There is no reason that Cooks could not occupy a place on an NBA bench just as his Mexican forebear does. After all, now aged 27, he is about the same age that Toscano-Anderson did it too.”
In an ominous signal for the remainder of the NBL, Cooks stated the Kings are but to hit their straps.
“I think we’ve got a lot of room to grow still, a lot of things to clear up a little bit,” he stated.
“We’re off to a good start. It’s always good to be top of the ladder and all, but we’ve got a long way to go to win a championship.
“It comes down to fourth quarters. We’re just not finishing the games very well. I think just finishing games the right way and keeping our foot on the throttle.”
