BALLARAT-born and Sydney Kings championship-winning MVP Xavier Cooks has signed a two-year deal to play in the NBA with the Washington Wizards.
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Cooks, the son of four-time Ballarat Miners most valuable player Eric, has become a superstar of the National Basketball League competition and is chasing back-to-back titles with the Kings.
The Kings squared the grand final series with the New Zealand Breakers at one-all, with game three on Friday.
The 27-year-old will play the rest of the NBA season with the Wizards in the United States, as well as the next two years, under the deal.
"I speak for the entire Kings family when I say we are thrilled for Xavier to take this next step to the NBA and realise his childhood dream," Kings chief executive Chris Pongrass said in a statement.
"It is difficult to properly articulate the impact X has had on this Club. His talent, leadership and innate desire to win completely shifted our trajectory these past four seasons.
"It is obvious that he is an NBA talent and belongs among the best players in the world."
Cooks is an Illawarra junior, where his father was a long-time Illawarra Hawks player and coach.
The Wizards are currently battling for a playoff spot, sitting 10th in the Eastern conference with a 30-33 win-loss record.
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Tim Barrow
When it comes to sport - at professional and community level - in the Illawarra, I'm here to provide insight, context and opinion, as well as the latest news you won't find anywhere else.
When it comes to sport - at professional and community level - in the Illawarra, I'm here to provide insight, context and opinion, as well as the latest news you won't find anywhere else.
