There will likely be a eleventh Australian enjoying within the NBA very quickly after Sydney Kings star Xavier Cooks signed a cope with the Washington Wizards.
Cooks will be a part of the Wizards for the rest of the present NBA season, in addition to the 2023-2024 NBA season, on a contract buyout.
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The 27-year-old was named the NBL MVP this season and is at present contesting the NBL Grand Final collection, which is tied 1-1 between the Kings and the New Zealand Breakers.
Cooks is nursing an ankle damage and solely performed a handful of minutes within the Sydney’s Game 2 win on Sunday, as Justin Simon helped an undermanned Kings outfit stage the five-game collection.
Cooks has lengthy been touted as a future NBA prospect.
The 203cm energy ahead has been with the Kings since 2019 and performed a key position of their NBL championship final yr and has turned heads this season along with his versatility and highly effective poster dunks.
The Kings must win two extra video games to assert back-to-back titles and ship Cooks to the NBA on a successful notice.
“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,” Sydney Kings CEO Chris Pongrass mentioned.
“It is difficult to properly articulate the impact X has had on this Club. His talent, leadership and innate desire to win completely shifted our trajectory these past four seasons.
“It is obvious that he is an NBA talent and belongs among the best players in the world.
“We thank X for his contribution to our Club – he will forever be a King.”
Cooks turns into the fifth participant in 5 years to make the leap from Kings to the NBA, together with Brian Bowen, Andrew Bogut, Jae’Sean Tate and Didi Louzada.
He joins Josh Giddey, Patty Mills, Ben Simmons, Joe Ingles, Jack White, Matthew Dellavedova, Dyson Daniels, Josh Green, Jock Landale and Matisse Thybulle as Australians at present enjoying within the NBA.
With 1 / 4 of the NBA season remaining, the Wizards sit tenth within the Eastern Conference standings with a 30-33 win-loss file.
Last yr, Cooks informed news.com.au he hoped to affix an NBA group after this NBL season however successful a second championship with the Kings was his No. 1 precedence.
“To be honest with you, if I don’t make it after this season it’s going to be pretty tough to do it,”
“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.”
Game three of the NBL Grand Final collection ideas off in Sydney on Friday evening.
Source: www.news.com.au
