Kings maintain 'main goal' focus amid Cooks hype

It’s rare that any story can overthrow a Championship Series when two teams are in the midst of battling it out for the ultimate team glory, but that’s exactly what’s happened with the news of Xavier Cooks’ impending move to the NBA’s Washington Wizards.

With the best-of-five series between the Sydney Kings and New Zealand Breakers poised at one game apiece, and Cooks battling with injury ahead of Friday night’s game three, the news of his two-year deal with the Wizards has acted like another feather in the cap of not only the Kings program but the NBL as a whole.

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He’s set to follow the likes of former Kings Didi Louzada and Jae’Sean Tate into the NBA, and fellow Australian talents Jack White and Jock Landale who have graduated from the domestic competition in recent years.

After his breakthrough 20-point performance in Sunday’s game two, Kouat Noi says Cooks and the team is as focused as ever.

“There are no egos in this team at all,” Noi said.

“No one thinks they’re better than the other guys – that’s what makes this team special.

“When someone is achieving it makes the whole group achieve too. It makes the whole group look good.

“We’re very proud of Xavier, but our main goal is to win a championship and I know he knows that too.

"We’re going to do whatever we have to do to win.

“The championship is the only thing on our mind.

"All the extra white noise, tension, stuff like that is good for us too, but we’re the ones that have to go on the court and play a great team like the New Zealand Breakers and try and get that championship.”

Noi’s move to the Sydney Kings from the Cairns Taipans has seen him make the Championship for the first time in his career.

In his final season at the Taipans, he spent a lot of his time playing the small forward position, but he’s now playing in a backup power forward role behind Cooks – despite the obvious ability to be able to take on a starting role.

He says his teammate’s move to the NBA offers a strong reminder that the pathways are there should you impress enough.

“It’s always good to see one of your teammates achieve one of his childhood dreams. It’s a great opportunity for him and hopefully, some more guys can get that opportunity too,” Noi said.

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“He just comes in and makes everyone better, he’s made me so much better this year and I think I made him better too.

“The NBL is the best league, I believe, outside of the NBA.

"Whenever there’s a chance for a guy in the NBL to make it to the big leagues it gives me confidence too, I strive for that NBA dream too so hopefully in the upcoming years I’ll be the next one to go.”

Noi and the Kings host the New Zealand Breakers in game three of the NBL Championship Series at Qudos Bank Arena on Friday, March 10 - with tickets still available here.