Xavier Cooks

Born in Ballarat, Victoria, on 19 August 1995, Xavier Cooks grew up mainly in Wollongong, New South Wales, in a basketball family. His father, Eric, played and coached, and Cooks progressed through Basketball Australia's Centre of Excellence in Canberra in 2014. He attended Winthrop University in South Carolina from 2014 to 2018, where he became a two-time First Team All-Big South selection and the 2018 Big South Player of the Year. Cooks began his professional career in Germany, then established himself in the Australian NBL with the Sydney Kings. A versatile, athletic forward, he is known for rebounding, defensive activity, interior finishing, transition play and his ability to contribute as a mobile frontcourt player. His NBL22 championship and Larry Sengstock Medal-winning Finals MVP performance preceded further success with Sydney, the 2022 NZNBL MVP award with the Wellington Saints and his move to the Washington Wizards. He later returned to professional basketball outside the NBA and remained part of the Australian national-team pathway. As at 13 August 2026, the supplied provider record lists him as inactive with Washington; publicly available team and league records also document his 2023 Wizards stint and subsequent professional career.