Washington Wizards sign NBL MVP Xavier Cooks through 2023-’24 season

The Washington Wizards have had a rough few seasons but have definitely had some interesting prospects. The undrafted players in particular have stood out as they have stepped up and proven their value as NBA players. The Wizards add to that repertoire by signing Xavier Cooks from the Sydney Kings of the NBL.

For those unfamiliar, the NBL is an Australian basketball league that has already produced numerous NBA players including Josh Giddey. One team, the Adelaide 36ers gained a moment of fame in the offseason by defeating the Phoenix Suns.

Cooks won the MVP this season and the championship last season along with the Grand Final MVP. He is currently competing for the championship again and will join the Wizards once the series is over.

How good is Xavier Cooks and how can he help the Washington Wizards?

Cooks averaged 15.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game in the regular season while shooting 57% from the field.

The six-foot nine forward has some playmaking ability, although it’s unknown how well it will hold up in the NBA. He is also a quality defender against NBL opponents, something that should carry over to help the Wizards.

While he is an incredible athlete, he will only be a good athlete in the NBA, something that should help him, but not as much as it would in other leagues. The 27-year-old will definitely have an adjustment period at first.

The biggest weakness in Cooks’ game is his inability to stretch the floor. He is not a good shooter by any means. He shot only 54% from the free throw line this season and 33% from beyond the arc. Although, it’s worth noting that he has only attempted 27 threes this season.

That being said, he will be incredibly interesting as a bench piece for the Wizards. He has decent height and is athletic. He could come in and be an effective pick ‘n’ roll player behind Deni Avdija and Kristaps Porzingis. It will definitely give them a bit more versatility to the roster as he will be very different from the other available forwards.

The biggest question going forward for Xavier Cooks will be how does his skill set and athleticism adjust to the NBA? He is an experienced player in the NBL but has never played at the NBA level and the pace may be difficult to adjust to. Still, an incredibly interesting signing by the Washington Wizards.