Xavier Cooks
{{Short description|Australian basketball player (born 1995)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Use Australian English|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Xavier Cooks
| image = 1_xavier_cooks_2023.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Cooks with the Washington Wizards in 2023
| position = Power forward
| height_cm = 203
| weight_kg = 83
| league = NBL
| team = Sydney Kings
| number = 10
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1995|08|19}}
| birth_place = Ballarat, Victoria, Australia
| high_school = Holy Spirit College
(Wollongong, New South Wales)
| college = Winthrop (2014–2018)
| draft_year = 2018
| career_start = 2013
| years1 = 2013
| team1 = Illawarra Hawks (Waratah)
| years2 = 2014
| team2 = BA Centre of Excellence
| years3 = 2018–2019
| team3 = s.Oliver Würzburg
| years4 = 2019–2023
| team4 = Sydney Kings
| years5 = 2022
| team5 = Wellington Saints
| years6 = {{nbay|2022|end}}
| team6 = Washington Wizards
| years7 = 2023–2024
| team7 = Chiba Jets Funabashi
| years8 = 2024–present
| team8 = Sydney Kings
| highlights =
- EASL champion (2024)
- 2× NBL champion (2022, 2023)
- NBL Grand Final MVP (2022)
- NBL Most Valuable Player (2023)
- All-NBL First Team (2023)
- 2× All-NBL Second Team (2022, 2025)
- NZNBL MVP (2022)
- NZNBL All-Star Five (2022)
- NZNBL Most Outstanding Forward (2022)
- Big South Player of the Year (2018)
- 2× First-team All-Big South (2017, 2018)
- Second-team All-Big South (2016)
- Big South All-Freshman Team (2015)
}}
Xavier Cooks (born 19 August 1995) is an Australian professional basketball player for the Sydney Kings of the National Basketball League (NBL). He played college basketball for the Winthrop Eagles, where he was named the 2018 Big South Conference Player of the Year. In 2022, he helped the Sydney Kings win the NBL championship while earning grand final MVP honours. In 2023, he was named NBL MVP and won his second straight NBL championship.
Early life
Cooks was born in Ballarat, Victoria.{{cite news|last=Evans|first=Kyle|title=Son of Ballarat Miners great Eric Cooks is taking after his father in a big way|url=https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/6199517/son-of-miners-great-filling-his-fathers-shoes/|access-date=17 January 2020|work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|date=4 June 2019}} He grew up in Wollongong, New South Wales, and attended Holy Spirit College.{{cite news|title=Sydney Sign Xavier Cooks on Multi-Year Deal|url=https://nbl.com.au/news/sydney-sign-xavier-cooks-on-multi-year-deal|access-date=27 November 2019|work=NBL.com.au|date=29 November 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Ward |first1=Courtney |title=Xavier Cooks named in Australian Boomers squad for FIBA World Cup |url=https://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/6318012/cooks-career-booming-after-aussie-selection-for-world-cup/ |website=South Coast Register |access-date=17 November 2020 |date=8 August 2019}}
In 2013, Cooks played for the Illawarra Hawks in the Waratah League.{{cite web|url=https://basketball.australiabasket.com/player/Xavier-Cooks/285873|title=Xavier Cooks|work=australiabasket.com|access-date=7 February 2023|url-access=subscription}} The following year, he moved to Canberra and played for the BA Centre of Excellence in the South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL).
College career
Cooks moved to the United States in 2014 to play college basketball for the Winthrop Eagles. He chose Winthrop over offers from schools such as UC Santa Barbara, Boise State, Hartford, Maine, and Nicholls State.{{cite news|last1=Boyce|first1=Dan|title=Xavier Cooks, the unknown second generation Aussie basketball star|url=http://www.aussiehoopla.com/xavier-cooks-winthorp-university/|access-date=27 February 2018|work=aussiehoopla.com|date=6 July 2014}}
As a freshman in 2014–15, Cooks was named to the Big South Conference All-Freshman Team. As a sophomore in 2015–16, he earned second-team All-Big South honours.
As a junior in 2016–17, Cooks earned first-team All-Big South.{{cite news|last1=Wimberly|first1=Nate|title=Keon Johnson named Big South Player of the Year|url=http://www.wbtv.com/story/34618160/keon-johnson-named-big-south-player-of-the-year|access-date=27 February 2018|work=wbtv.com|date=27 February 2017}} He helped Winthrop win the Big South Tournament and earned Big South All-Tournament Team. On 15 February 2017, he recorded the first 20-point, 20-rebound game for Winthrop since 2003.{{cite news|title=Xavier Cooks has first 20/20 game for Winthrop since 2003|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/2017/02/15/xavier-cooks-has-first-20-20-game-for-winthrop-since-2003/97975128/|access-date=27 February 2018|work=USA Today|date=15 February 2018}}
As a senior in 2017–18, Cooks was again named first-team All-Big South and the Big South Player of the Year.{{cite press release|url=http://bigsouthsports.com/news/2018/2/26/big-south-announces-2017-18-mens-basketball-award-winners.aspx |title=Big South Announces 2017-18 Men's Basketball Award Winners |publisher=Big South Conference |date=26 February 2018 |access-date=26 February 2018}} During the season, he became Winthrop's all-time leading rebounder.{{cite news|title=Xavier Cooks became Winthrop's all-time leading rebounder as the Eagles dropped Radford|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/article198284634.html|access-date=27 February 2018|work=Miami Herald|date=3 February 2018}}
In 2020, Cooks was voted into the Big South Men's Basketball All-Decade Team (2010–19).{{cite web|title=Big South Announces 2010-19 Men's Basketball All-Decade Team|url=http://bigsouthsports.com/news/2020/6/12/general-big-south-announces-2010-19-mens-basketball-all-decade-team.aspx|access-date=2020-06-16|website=Big South Conference|language=en}}
Professional career
=s.Oliver Würzburg (2018–2019)=
File:Xavier Cooks.jpg in 2019]]
After going undrafted in the 2018 NBA draft, Cooks joined the Golden State Warriors for the 2018 NBA Summer League.{{cite web|url=https://basketball.realgm.com/player/Xavier-Cooks/Summary/80513|title=Xavier Cooks|work=realgm.com|access-date=7 March 2023}} He played for s.Oliver Würzburg in Germany in 2018–19{{cite web |title=S.Oliver Wurzburg signs rookie Xavier Cooks to replace Mitch Creek |url=https://sportando.basketball/en/germany/bbl/283637/soliver-wurzburg-signs-rookie-xavier-cooks-to-replace-mitch-creek.html |website=Sportando |access-date=July 27, 2018 |date=July 27, 2018}} and then joined the Phoenix Suns for the 2019 NBA Summer League.
Cooks initially signed with French team SIG Strasbourg for the 2019–20 season,{{cite web|title=Xavier Cooks s'ajoute au roster |url=https://sigstrasbourg.fr/2019/07/xavier-cooks-s-ajoute-au-roster |website=SIG Strasbourg |language=fr |date=25 July 2019}} but left due to injury.{{cite web|title=Xavier Cooks ne sera pas Strasbourgeois |url=https://sigstrasbourg.fr/2019/11/xavier-cooks-ne-sera-pas-strasbourgeois |website=SIG Strasbourg |language=fr |date=27 November 2019}}
=Sydney Kings (2019–2023)=
On 27 November 2019, Cooks signed with the Sydney Kings of the Australian NBL on a multi-year deal.{{cite web |title=Sydney Sign Xavier Cooks on Multi-Year Deal |url=https://nbl.com.au/news/sydney-sign-xavier-cooks-on-multi-year-deal |website=nbl.com.au |date=27 November 2019 |access-date=27 November 2019}} Following the 2019–20 season, Cooks opted out of his deal{{cite web |title=Xavier Cooks opts out of deal with Sydney Kings |url=https://sportando.basketball/en/xavier-cooks-opts-out-of-deal-with-sydney-kings/ |website=Sportando |access-date=8 May 2020 |date=2 May 2020}} and then re-signed with the Kings for the 2020–21 NBL season.{{cite web |title=Xavier Cooks returns for NBL21 |url=https://www.sydneykings.com/news/xavier-cooks-returns-for-nbl21 |website=sydneykings.com |date=7 July 2020 |access-date=7 July 2020}} He averaged 10.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game in his second season with Sydney.{{cite news |last1=Uluc |first1=Olgun |title=NBL Free Agency: who's on the move |url=https://www.espn.com/nbl/story/_/id/31715766/nbl-free-agency-move |access-date=29 June 2021 |work=ESPN |date=26 June 2021}}
On 30 June 2021, Cooks re-signed with the Kings for the 2021–22 NBL season.{{cite web|title=Sydney Re-Sign Xavier Cooks|url=https://nbl.com.au/news/sydney-re-sign-xavier-cooks|website=NBL.com.au|date=30 June 2021|access-date=30 June 2021}} He helped the Kings win the 2022 NBL championship while earning Grand Final MVP honours.{{cite web|url=https://nbl.com.au/news/kings-win-first-championship-in-17-years-with-record-crowd|title=Kings Win First Championship in 17 Years with Record Crowd|work=NBL.com.au|date=11 May 2022|access-date=11 May 2022}}
On 18 May 2022, Cooks signed with the Wellington Saints for the rest of the 2022 New Zealand NBL season.{{cite web|last=Hinton|first=Marc|title=Saints signing coup: Kiwi NBL champs snap up Australian finals MVP Xavier Cooks|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/300590707/saints-signing-coup-kiwi-nbl-champs-snap-up-australian-finals-mvp-xavier-cooks|website=stuff.co.nz|date=18 May 2022|access-date=18 May 2022}} He went on to win league MVP, All-Star Five and Most Outstanding Forward.{{cite web|url=https://men.nznbl.basketball/2022-sals-nbl-award-winners-announced/|title=2022 SAL'S NBL AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED|work=nznbl.basketball|date=9 August 2022|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809060432/https://men.nznbl.basketball/2022-sals-nbl-award-winners-announced/|archive-date=9 August 2022}}{{cite web|last=Egan|first=Brendon|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/129510396/wellington-saints-star-xavier-cooks-earns-nbl-mvp-honours|title=Wellington Saints' star Xavier Cooks earns NBL MVP honours|work=Stuff.co.nz|date=9 August 2022|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809102502/https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/129510396/wellington-saints-star-xavier-cooks-earns-nbl-mvp-honours|archive-date=9 August 2022}}
On 22 June 2022, Cooks re-signed with the Kings on a three-year deal.{{cite web|title=Xavier Cooks back for another three years|url=https://www.sydneykings.com/news/xavier-cooks-back-for-another-three-years|website=sydneykings.com|date=22 June 2022|access-date=29 January 2023}} On 29 January 2023, he had 16 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in a 111–106 win over the South East Melbourne Phoenix, marking the league's first triple-double since 2021 and the first from a Sydney player since Dontaye Draper in 2008.{{cite web|title=Kings Beat Phoenix to Secure Regular Season Crown|url=https://nbl.com.au/news/kings-beat-phoenix-to-secure-regular-season-crown|website=NBL.com.au|date=29 January 2023|access-date=29 January 2023}} He went on to win NBL MVP for the 2022–23 season{{cite web|title=Xavier Cooks Wins MVP Honours|url=https://nbl.com.au/news/xavier-cooks-wins-mvp-honours|website=NBL.com.au|date=7 February 2023|access-date=7 February 2023}} and helped the Kings win back-to-back championships.{{cite web|title=Kings' Big Finish to Secure Back-to-Back Championships|url=https://nbl.com.au/news/kings-big-finish-to-secure-back-to-back-championships|website=NBL.com.au|date=15 March 2023|access-date=18 March 2023}} He finished the season averaging 14.5 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game.{{cite web|title=Cooks Officially Signs NBA Contract|url=https://nbl.com.au/news/cooks-officially-signs-nba-contract|website=NBL.com.au|date=18 March 2023|access-date=18 March 2023}}
=Washington Wizards (2023)=
On 17 March 2023, Cooks signed with the Washington Wizards of the National Basketball Association (NBA).{{cite web|title=Wizards Sign Xavier Cooks to Multi-Year Deal|url=https://www.nba.com/wizards/news/wizards-sign-xavier-cooks-to-multi-year-deal|website=NBA.com|date=17 March 2023|access-date=17 March 2023}} He made his NBA debut the next day, recording two rebounds in five and a half minutes against the Sacramento Kings.{{cite web|title=Cooks Logs Minutes in NBA Debut|url=https://nbl.com.au/news/cooks-logs-minutes-in-nba-debut|website=NBL.com.au|date=19 March 2023|access-date=19 March 2023}} In the Wizards' final game of the season on 9 April, he recorded 10 points and 14 rebounds in 35 minutes as a starter against the Houston Rockets.{{cite web|title=Cooks Doubles Down|url=https://nbl.com.au/news/cooks-doubles-down|website=NBL.com.au|date=10 April 2023|access-date=10 April 2023}}
On 23 October 2023, Cooks was waived by the Wizards.{{cite web|title=Wizards Announce 2023-24 Opening Night Roster|url=https://www.nba.com/wizards/news/wizards-announce-2023-24-opening-night-roster|website=NBA.com|date=23 October 2023|access-date=24 October 2023}}
=Chiba Jets Funabashi (2023–2024)=
On 21 November 2023, Cooks signed with Chiba Jets Funabashi of the B.League.{{cite web|title=2023-24シーズン 新規契約選手のお知らせ|url=https://chibajets.jp/news/detail/id=22330|website=ChibaJets.jp|date=21 November 2023|access-date=24 November 2023|language=Japanese}} The team won the EASL championship for the 2023–24 season.{{cite web|last=Odeven|first=Ed|title=Chiba Jets Complete Perfect Run to East Asia Super League Title|url=https://japan-forward.com/chiba-jets-complete-perfect-run-to-east-asia-super-league-title/|website=japan-forward.com|date=11 March 2024|access-date=20 March 2024}} He averaged over 13 points and eight rebounds in 52 appearances with the Jets.{{cite web|title=Kingdom welcomes former MVP's return|url=https://nbl.com.au/news/kingdom-welcomes-former-mvps-return|website=NBL.com.au|date=27 May 2024|access-date=27 May 2024}}
=Return to Sydney (2024–present)=
On 27 May 2024, Cooks signed a three-year deal with the Sydney Kings. He was named to the All-NBL Second Team for the 2024–25 season.{{cite news |title=Cotton wins 5th MVP |url=https://nbl.com.au/news/cotton-wins-5th-mvp |access-date=10 February 2025 |work=NBL Official Website |date=10 February 2025}} On 11 February 2025, the NBL announced a mandatory provisional one-month suspension had been imposed on Cooks due to an adverse analytical finding from a standard in-competition anti-doping test.{{Cite web |title=Statement on Xavier Cooks |url=https://nbl.com.au/news/statement-on-xavier-cooks |access-date=2025-02-11 |website=NBL Official Website}} He missed the Kings' knock-out final against the Adelaide 36ers.{{cite news |last1=Brown |first1=Peter |title=Xavier Cooks suspended 'effective immediately' {{!}} Basketball.com.au |url=https://www.basketball.com.au/news/nbl25-second-teamer-xavier-cooks-suspended-effective-immediately-will-miss-elimination-final-against-adelaide-36ers |access-date=17 April 2025 |work=www.basketball.com.au |date=11 February 2025 |language=en}} The suspension ended on 7 March 2025 with no further recourse.{{cite news |title=Kings skipper Cooks could face more punishment {{!}} Basketball.com.au |url=https://www.basketball.com.au/news/sydney-kings-captain-xavier-cooks-could-face-further-punishment-from-the-nbl-club-after-doping-ban |access-date=17 April 2025 |work=www.basketball.com.au |date=13 March 2025 |language=en}}{{cite news |title=Kings release statement on Xavier Cooks |url=https://nbl.com.au/news/kings-release-statement-on-xavier-cooks |access-date=17 April 2025 |work=nbl.com.au |date=31 March 2025 |language=en}}{{cite news |title=Cooks apologises: "One of the biggest mistakes of my life" |url=https://nbl.com.au/news/cooks-apologises-one-of-the-biggest-mistakes-of-my-life |access-date=17 April 2025 |work=nbl.com.au |date=31 March 2025 |language=en}}
National team career
In 2017, Cooks was named to the Australian "Emerging Boomers" squad for the Summer Universiade.{{cite news|last1=Barrow|first1=Tim|title=Cooks has booming career|url=http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/4746220/cooks-has-booming-career/|access-date=27 February 2018|work=Illawarra Mercury|date=22 June 2017}}
In early August 2019, Cooks made the final cut for Australia's 2019 FIBA World Cup roster.{{cite web |title="I earned my spot" Xavier Cooks on his shock Boomers call-up |url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/basketball/i-earned-my-spot-xavier-cooks-on-his-shock-boomers-call-up-20190809-p52fiw.html |website=smh.com.au |language=en}} However, one week later he was forced to withdraw from the competition due to a knee injury sustained during practice.{{cite web |title=MITCH CREEK REPLACES XAVIER COOKS IN BOOMERS FIBA WORLD CUP TEAM |url=https://australia.basketball/blog/2019/08/16/mitch-creek-replaces-xavier-cooks-in-boomers-fiba-world-cup-team/ |website=australia.basketball |language=en}}
In April 2025, Cooks was named in the Boomers squad for a trans-Tasman series against New Zealand in May.{{cite news |title=Opals and Boomers bring fire to the AUS v NZL Trans-Tasman Throwdown |url=https://www.australia.basketball/news/4249992/opals-and-boomers-bring-fire-to-the-aus-v-nzl-trans-tasman-throwdown |access-date=17 April 2025 |work=www.australia.basketball |date=17 April 2025 |language=en}}
Career statistics
{{NBA player statistics legend}}
=NBA=
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2022}}
| style="text-align:left;"| Washington
| 10 || 1 || 12.6 || .607 || .000 || .400 || 3.8 || .6 || .6 || .4 || 3.8
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career
| 10 || 1 || 12.6 || .607 || .000 || .400 || 3.8 || .6 || .6 || .4 || 3.8
{{S-end}}
Personal life
Cooks is the son of Eric and Josie. His father is an African-American expatriate who became a naturalised citizen of Australia, and his mother is Australian.{{cite news|last=Glauber|first=Bill|title=Australian mom wouldn't miss Xavier Cooks' Winthrop Senior Day game|url=https://www.heraldonline.com/sports/college/big-south/winthrop-university/article201991604.html|access-date=6 March 2020|work=The Herald|date=24 February 2018}} His father played college basketball for St. Mary's College in California before relocating to Australia to pursue a professional career.{{cite news|last=Glauber|first=Bill|title=For Winthrop parents, a long basketball journey from Australia to Milwaukee|url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/milwaukee/2017/03/16/winthrop-parents-long-basketball-journey-australia-milwaukee/99260842/|access-date=12 February 2020|work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|date=16 May 2017}} He has two siblings, Georgia and Dominique. His brother was also a basketball player.{{cite news|last=Keeble|first=Tim|title=Dominique Cooks re-signs with Hawks|url=https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/2553735/dominique-cooks-re-signs-with-hawks/|access-date=5 January 2020|work=Illawarra Mercury|date=11 September 2014}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.winthropeagles.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=4593 Winthrop Eagles bio]
- [https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/xavier-cooks-1.html Xavier Cooks] – college basketball player statistics at Sports Reference
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Cooks, Xavier}}
Category:2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup players
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