- Has represented Australian Boomers and played in the NBA
- Returned to Australia to play for the Sydney Kings
- Has been suspended on the eve of the NBL play-in tournament
Australian Boomers star and former NBA player Xavier Cooks has been provisionally suspended from playing for the Sydney Kings in the NBL finals effective immediately.
‘A mandatory provisional suspension (effective immediately) has been imposed on Sydney Kings player Xavier Cooks following notification to him by Sport Integrity Australia (SIA) of an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) and a potential violation of the Australian National Anti-Doping Policy (ANADP),’ the NBL has released in a statement.
‘The matter is now progressing in accordance with the ANADP. No further comment will be made by the athlete, NBL, Sydney or BA and we request the privacy of all parties involved be respected.’
The Sydney Kings also released a statement that read: ‘Xavier Cooks has been provisionally suspended due to an Adverse Analytical Finding and a potential violation of the Australian National Anti-Doping Policy.
‘No further comments will be made at this time, and we request the privacy of all parties involved be respected.’
Cooks did not play the final regular-season NBL match against the Illawarra Hawks.
The Kings had said that Cooks was on ‘personal leave’ before admitting he had been provisionally suspended on Tuesday.
The suspension comes just days out from the Kings’ Play-In matchup with the Adelaide 36ers.
Cooks established himself as a dominant forward in the NBL, playing a key role for the Sydney Kings, where he won the 2022 NBL Grand Final MVP and helped secure back-to-back championships in 2022 and 2023.
Cooks was also part of the Australian Boomers squad that claimed an historic bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
He was overlooked for the Boomers doomed Paris Olympics campaign in 2024.
His impressive performances earned him an NBL MVP award in 2023, leading to a short-term contract with the Washington Wizards in the NBA.
He returned to the Kings for the 2024/25 season and was named in the All-NBL Second Team ahead of the finals that commence tonight.
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