After leading the Kings to the 2023 NBL title, Cooks signed a deal with the
Washington Wizards for the remainder of the 2022-23 NBA regular season. He was waived ahead of the following
season and signed with the Chiba Jets in Japan’s B.League.
Cooks, 28, now rejoins the Kings team he spent four seasons with, having won one
MVP, one Grand Final MVP, and named to one All-NBL First Team during his time with the franchise.
In his most recent season with the Kings, Cooks – a native of Wollongong, NSW – averaged 15.1 points and 7.8 rebounds
per game, en route to winning the NBL’s Most Valuable Player award and the 2023 NBL Championship.
The Kings are coming off a 13-15 season, finishing in fifth place on the NBL ladder and missing out on a playoff berth under
first-year head coach, Mahmoud Abdelfattah. The team was quick to move on from Abdelfattah following the
season, and signed Australian Boomers head coach Brian Goorjian on a three-year deal.
Cooks, a 6’8 forward known for his versatility and athleticism on both ends
of the floor, was a member of the Boomers team during the 2023 FIBA World Cup, and is likely to remain on the
roster going into the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Cooks’ signing will see him join Alex Toohey (Next Star), Shaun Bruce, Jackson
Makoi, Angus Glover, DJ Hogg (mutual option), and Makuach Maluach (team
option) as the Kings’ contracted players going into the 2024 NBL Free Agency.
