Xavier Cooks last played in the NBA during the 2022-23 season, appearing in ten games for the Washington Wizards. During that stint, he averaged 3.8 points and 3.8 rebounds per game with a 60.7% field goal shooting rate. Before the start of the 2023-24 season, Cooks was released by the Wizards, though he still received $1.7 million as part of his contract. This move was announced alongside the release of Taj Gibson by the team’s General Manager, Will Dawkins, who emphasized a focus on younger players.
Cooks, now with the Chiba Jets, remains a viable candidate for future NBA opportunities given his age of 28. Meanwhile, the Wizards struggled in the recent season, finishing as the 14th seed in the Eastern Conference with a 15-67 record. Despite their challenges, the team boasts a roster including NBA Champions Jordan Poole and Kyle Kuzma. With strategic acquisitions in the offseason, the Wizards aim to position themselves as contenders for a top-ten seed in the 2025 season.
