5 things you should know about Xavier Cooks

On Friday, the Washington Wizards announced that they signed Xavier Cooks to a multi-year contract. According to Michael Scotto from the HoopsHype Podcast, Cooks signed a 4 year- $6.1M deal for the rest of this season and the 2023-24 season however the next two seasons are not guaranteed. 

The Wizards President and General Manager Tommy Sheppard said “We welcome Xavier to the Wizards organization as a very intelligent, high-energy player that will add athleticism to our squad while being a great teammate. He left a lasting legacy in the NBL to pursue his dream to play in the NBA and we feel he will be an excellent addition now and in the future."

Here are 5 things you should know about Cooks:

1. Xavier Cooks is a 6-foot-8 power forward who is considered one of the NBL’s (National Basketball League in Australia) outstanding development stories. Cooks, who went undrafted after college, has been playing in the NBL for four seasons and has been a standout player for the Sydney Kings.

2. Cooks was named the NBL's MVP in the 2022-23 season and was also named the Finals MVP in the previous season. He averaged 15.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game for the Kings, helping lead them to a 19-9 record and a trip to the NBL Finals against the New Zealand Breakers.

3. Cooks is the son of an African-American expatriate who became a naturalised citizen of Australia and an Australian mother. He has two siblings, including a brother who was also a basketball player. 

4. Cooks has played professionally for the Golden State Warriors, s.Oliver Würzburg in Germany, SIG Strasbourg in France, and the Sydney Kings and Wellington Saints in Australia.

5. Sam Vecenie, the Athletic's draft expert said this about Cooks: "His feel for the game is superb. He’s an awesome passer. He can play within ball screens with the ball in his hand and make strong passing reads that way, but I think the more likely way this will bear itself out in the NBA is how he attacks closeouts. He covers ground quickly with his strides and always has his eyes up looking for teammates. He might make a wild read from time to time, but he’s a smart, unselfish player who should fit nicely into being a role guy. He’ll also get out in transition and really push the pace. He can grab and go or just fill the lanes to attack the rim and space the floor. "