NBL MVP Xavier Cooks has made his NBA debut for the Washington Wizards simply hours after having his first exercise with the workforce.
Less than 4 days after main the Sydney Kings to a second consecutive title with victory in Game 5 of the NBL grand last sequence, Cooks got here off the bench for 4 minutes within the Wizards’ 132-118 house loss to the high-flying Sacramento Kings on Saturday.
“Another guy with size, athleticism,” Wizards coach Wes Unseld Jr informed reporters, who revealed Cooks had his first session with the workforce within the morning.
“He’s got the versatility to defend multiple positions.”
The Wizards (32-38) sit eleventh within the jap convention as they battle for a spot among the many seventh to Tenth-placed groups who will contest the NBA Play-In event.
Cooks’ countryman Matthew Dellavedova bought a uncommon cameo off the bench for the Kings, nailing a three-pointer in his 4 minutes on court docket for the Kings.
The 32-year-old Dellavedova returned to the competitors final yr from Melbourne United and is trying to assist one other workforce to an NBA championship after enjoying alongside LeBron James within the Cleveland Cavaliers’ triumphant 2015-16 season.
The Kings (43-27) are wanting good, positioned equal second with the Memphis Grizzlies within the western convention behind solely the Denver Nuggets, having gained 11 of their final 13 matches and 7 straight on the street.
Domantas Sabonis had 30 factors, 9 rebounds and 9 assists for the Kings towards the Wizards whereas Terence Davis II offered an early prompt the bench and added 21 factors.
Six gamers scored in double figures for the Kings. Keegan Murray scored 19, Malik Monk added 17, De’Aaron Fox had 12 and Harrison Barnes 11.
They shot shot 21 for 34 (61.8 per cent) from 3-point vary, with 5 every from Murray, Davis and Monk.
Washington ahead Kyle Kuzma made 12 of 23 photographs to complete with 33 factors whereas fellow star Bradley Beal added 20 factors for the Wizards, who misplaced for the seventh time in 9 video games regardless of taking pictures 45.1 per cent from the ground.
with AAP
Source: www.perthnow.com.au