Xavier Cooks

Returned to Sydney Kings in NBL25 after a taste of playing in the NBA and a season in Japan already a two-time championship winner and former MVP.

While born in Ballarat, Victoria, mostly grew up in Wollongong where his father, Eric, played and coached before he went to the Centre of Excellence in 2014 after finishing at school.

After that, attended Winthrop University in South Carolina and those four years included making Big South All-Freshman Team in 2015, First Team All-Big South in both 2017 and 2018, and being Big South Player of the Year in 2018.

Started his professional career in Germany before coming to play in the NBL for the first time at the Kings for NBL20 and by NBL22, starred on a championship team before an MVP season in the NZ NBL at the Wellington Saints.

Was MVP of NBL23 with 15.1 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists on the way to again being championship captain which led to him signing for the Washington Wizards.

Played 10 games to close the 2022/23 NBA season before then signing in Japan to play at the Chiba Jets ahead of returning to the Kings for NBL25, and being back again for a second straight season.