NBL MVP Xavier Cooks signs with Washington Wizards as latest Aussie to join NBA
Another Aussie has joined the NBA, with Sydney Kings NBL MVP Xavier Cooks signing a two-year cope with the Washington Wizards.
The 27-year previous energy ahead will play out the rest of the NBL championship sequence between Sydney and the New Zealand Breakers earlier than he hyperlinks up with the Wizards for the remainder of the present NBA marketing campaign and 2023/24.
Cooks has averaged 16.2 factors, 7.8 rebounds and 4 assists per sport this season to take out MVP honours after main the Kings to the championship final season, the place he received the Larry Sengstock Medal because the Grand Final Series MVP.
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The Wollongong product, who went undrafted out of faculty at Winthrop, has additionally performed professionally in Germany and New Zealand, signing with the Kings in 2019.
He turns into the fifth participant within the final 5 seasons to depart Sydney to affix the NBA, with the staff’s entrance workplace – together with former Memphis Grizzlies government Chris Pongrass and Australian greats Andrew Bogut and Luc Longley – eager on the organisation to offer such a transition for gamers.
“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 stated in a press release.
“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 additionally turns into the tenth Aussie to affix the NBA ranks alongside Ben Simmons, Josh Giddey, Dyson Daniels, Josh Green, Joe Ingles, Matisse Thybulle, Patty Mills, Jock Landale and Jack White.
The Wizards are at the moment preventing for a playoff spot, at the moment sitting tenth within the Eastern Conference with a 30-33 report.
