Xavier Cooks
Debut: Pre-Olympic warm-up games, Las Vegas 2021 Height: 203cm Major Tournaments: FIBA 2023 World Cup Current team: Chiba Jets Funabashi, B.League Junior club:
Born in Ballarat but raised in Wollongong, the athletic forward has overcome injuries to find consistency then hot form on court and earn his place in the Australian Boomers squad.
Cooks was a dominant force in the Sydney Kings back-to-back NBL titles and was crowned league MVP in 2022-23, collecting the Andrew Gaze Trophy.
Just days after raising the trophy in March 2023, Cooks career took a dramatic turn as he made his NBA debut with the Washington Wizards inking a four-year contract. He took to the court for the Wizards during the 2023 Summer League in July.
Cooks signed with Japanese B.League's Chiba Jets Funabashi in November 2023 and will return the NBL for the Sydney Kings next season.
Did You Know?
Xavier’s father Eric Cooks was a star import for Ballarat Miners in the SEABL before following his coach Brendan Joyce to Wollongong/Illawarra Hawks in the NBL first as a player and later as a coach.
