Photo by Josh Willink

The Washington Wizards are signing Sydney Kings forward Xavier Cooks – MVP of the National Basketball League in Australia – to a deal through the 2023-2024 season.

Cooks, who’ll join the Wizards as soon as the Kings complete play in the NBL Finals this week, comes to the NBA on a contract buyout and becomes the fifth player in five years to make the leap from that organization to the NBA.