Cooks credits NBL for helping NBA transition

Xavier Cooks and Washington Wizards coach Wes Unseld Jr have praised the impact the NBL has had on the successful transition Cooks has made to the NBA.

Cooks joined the Wizards immediately after winning the NBL championship with the Sydney Kings and has made an instant impact.

The 2023 NBL MVP had one of his best performances in Washington’s victory over the Miami Heat, amassing 10 points, nine rebounds and three steals in 22 minutes off the bench.

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Speaking after the game, Cooks explained how the similarities between the NBL and NBA have proved invaluable since landing in Washington.

“I think the first thing is the speed of the game. The NBL is a really fast league, and the NBA is obviously a pretty fast league,” Cooks said.

“The other thing is the physicality and athleticism…it has taken some time to adjust to this league but I’m enjoying it.”

Joint postgame with Johnny Davis / Xavier Cooks (@JohnnyDavis & @xaviercooks10)

I asked X how the @nbl helped him for the @nba and a message to Australia and @SydneyKings fans. ??

- Johnny Davis with a message for Washington Wizards fans who supported him Day 1. #DCAboveAll pic.twitter.com/oUzi4FNySB

— Wayne Cole (@waynec0le) April 8, 2023

Cooks added the love and support he is receiving from the Australian basketball community “means a lot”.

Coach Unseld Jr echoed Cooks’ comments, detailing how the NBL is a premier breeding ground for NBA talent.

“It’s a very competitive league and it’s a very physical league,” Unseld Jr said.

“It’s known for having high level talent and also having very physical, very aggressive styles of play, so it translates. From an athleticism standpoint, it is very similar.”

Cooks has played 8 games for the Wizards, averaging 8.3 minutes.