NBA Next: Who Could Follow in Cooks' Footsteps?

Xavier Cooks has become the most recent graduate of the NBL to earn an opportunity in the NBA, and he’s joined the likes of Mitch Creek, Isaac Humphries, Jack White and Jock Landale in the pool of bigs to take their talents Stateside.

Cooks’ well-deserved deal with the Washington Wizards got us thinking – who could be the next local talent to follow him into the NBA?

Former Albany collegiate player and 2018 NBL Champion Peter Hooley provided seven names he believes could be next in line to follow Cooks and his predecessors – and we at NBL Media dove into why, and how, they can do it.

Given Luke Travers' draft rights are currently held by the Cleveland Cavaliers, he has been excluded from this list.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBLxNBA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBLxNBA</a> ?<br><br>Sydney Kings star Xavier Cooks is set to join the NBA at the conclusion of the NBL Championship Series, agreeing to a two-year deal with the Washington Wizards ?<br><br>Read more: <a href="https://t.co/NYSFhIccjm">https://t.co/NYSFhIccjm</a> <a href="https://t.co/5YUsSgr2j0">pic.twitter.com/5YUsSgr2j0</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1632627438135169024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Will McDowell-White
The ‘do everything’ style of point guard that was helped popularised by Russell Westbrook at OKC has taken hold in the world of basketball.

The likes of Luka Doncic, LaMelo Ball, Josh Giddey and even Ja Morant have added a new dimension to their side with their abilities to both be the team’s primary ball-handler, and stuff every column of the stat sheet.

The desire to have that style of guard is moving into competitions the world over, and Will McDowell-White is the best representation of the new era of point-guard the NBL has to offer.

His 19-point, nine rebound, nine assist outing in Game 1 of the NBL23 Championship Series proved just how deadly he can be when afforded time and space in the pick-and-roll, and he’s been flirting with triple-doubles all season long.

The Breakers guard already has G-League experience – having played with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers and trained with the Houston Rockets between 2019-2021.

It’s since his return to the NBL that he’s really blossomed though – and while he still needs to work on being able to put those types of Game 1 performances in far more consistently, another stint in the States is far from beyond the realms of possibility.

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Keanu Pinder
The NBL’s back-to-back Most Improved Player thrust his name amongst the brightest lights in the competition this season, and if it weren’t for his struggles with ankle and facial injuries in the back half of the campaign, could we have seen him heading over to the NBA on the same flight as Xavier Cooks? Quite possibly.

Pinder could carve out the style of niche for himself that former Sydney King Jae’Sean Tate has in the power-forward position at the Houston Rockets, as the maximum effort team man who allows everyone around him to thrive.

You only need to see his influence on the seasons of Bul Kuol, DJ Hogg and Tahjere McCall. Pinder can get boards, block shots, run the floor and put-up threes, and his presence in the key allowed Cairns’ sharpshooters even more space to do damage in the side’s fast-paced, run and gun style of offence.

After overcoming the eye injury that ruled him out of Cairns’ Playoff campaign, Pinder is heading to Spain for the NBL off-season with Balconcesto Fuenlabrada, for his first stint in Europe since his two years in Poland with Legia Warsaw.

If he can prove he can get it done in the slowed down, more defensive style of European basketball, there’s a chance we won’t see him back in the NBL for a little while – for better or for worse.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">?? ¡Altura para Carplus Fuenlabrada!<a href="https://twitter.com/BFuenlabrada?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BFuenlabrada</a> se hace con los servicios del pívot Keanu Pinder.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LigaEndesa?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LigaEndesa</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MercadoACB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MercadoACB</a> <a href="https://t.co/qEOr3rSWo5">pic.twitter.com/qEOr3rSWo5</a></p>&mdash; Liga Endesa (@ACBCOM) <a href="https://twitter.com/ACBCOM/status/1631629578744614913?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Chris Goulding
Goulding’s age certainly goes against him in any potential quest to make the NBA, but the 34-year-old could certainly still fill a role for a side looking for a shooter.

If an NBA GM said ‘get me the best shooter in the world outside the NBA’, there’s no doubt Goulding would, at the very least, be in the conversation.

Coming off a season where he hit his 1000^th NBL three-pointer and had his second best scoring campaign in his last seven seasons, Goulding still has plenty to give in his quest for further career milestones, whether that be in the NBL or elsewhere.

And with ESPN insider Olgun Uluc reporting the sharpshooter has signed an off-season deal with former Kings coach Will Weaver’s Paris Basketball, he’s shown there’s still a willingness to head overseas and perform.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Chris Goulding has signed with Paris Basketball, sources told ESPN. The team is head coached by Will Weaver; they’ve qualified for the EuroCup playoffs, after nearly being relegated last season.</p>&mdash; Olgun Uluc (@OlgunUluc) <a href="https://twitter.com/OlgunUluc/status/1632851567027294208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The three-time NBL champion has had stints in America before. He played in the 2013 Summer League with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the 2014 Summer League with the Dallas Mavericks, and he trained with the Golden State Warriors following his Olympic bronze medal win with the Boomers.

If there’s a team searching for a player who can fill the type of role former NBA All-Star Kyle Korver filled in the final few seasons of his career, they could do far, far worse than Chris Goulding.

Chris Goulding has earned three NBL championships, two All-NBL First Team selections, three All-NBL second team selections, and NBL Scoring Title (2014) and an NBL Grand Final MVP (2018) in his NBL career.

Sam Froling
It feels like Sam Froling has been around for a very long time, and with the responsibility of co-captaincy at the Illawarra Hawks being thrust upon him ahead of NBL23, it’s so easy to forget he’s only recently turned 23.

Despite Illawarra coming off a notoriously difficult season Froling finished the year with an enhanced reputation. There were times when it seemed like it was he and Tyler Harvey against the world on the scoresheet, and you absolutely cannot discount the effort he put in to win the club’s MVP award.

A key indication of the FIBA Asia Cup winner’s development is the fact he has improved in almost every major metric since his second season in the NBL – where he was named the competition’s Most Improved Player.

He’s taking more shots – including threes, and while his field goal percentage has dipped to be a hair below 50 per cent, he’s taking – and hitting – more shots from distance.

He’s grabbing more rebounds and both ends of the floor, and he’s earning more steals. He’s showcasing his ability to be a genuine defensive option outside of the key as opposed to being a purely one-dimensional shot blocker.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This week on The Huddle podcast <a href="https://twitter.com/Liam_Santa?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Liam_Santa</a> is joined by <a href="https://twitter.com/MelbUnitedHQ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MelbUnitedHQ</a> head coach Dean Vickerman to look ahead to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL22?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL22</a>, reflect on their championship and share details of Chris Goulding&#39;s post-Olympics NBA try out with the Warriors ?<br><br>Full chat here: <a href="https://t.co/hMhMKc1J2g">https://t.co/hMhMKc1J2g</a> <a href="https://t.co/RrR9RXBAk4">pic.twitter.com/RrR9RXBAk4</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1454709985087148032?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 31, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

DJ Vasiljevic
Teams can never have enough shooters. The more dangerous offensive weapons a side has at its disposal, the harder it becomes for a defence to deal with.

Much like Will McDowell-White the most important factor in DJ Vasiljevic’s NBA ambitions is the ability to add consistency to his game – but despite a tough stretch of shooting performances in the middle of the season, he still shot almost 40 per cent from the three-point line in the NBL23 regular season.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">DJ Vasiljevic (42 points) led the Sydney Kings to another big win as the Phoenix sunk to their third straight defeat.<br><br>Check out the best moments. <a href="https://t.co/7Gt0JCeKNW">pic.twitter.com/7Gt0JCeKNW</a></p>&mdash; ESPN Australia &amp; NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNAusNZ/status/1610801503329030144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Over 53 per cent of Vasiljevic’s shots in the regular season were from distance, and the University of Miami graduate has been a steady improver in his three seasons in the league.

His winning pedigree – especially if the Kings can overcome the Breakers in this series – would definitely help. If he can pitch himself to teams with two championships, international experience and a strong college career in his bag, an NBA contract through an Exhibit-10 or Summer League experience is a distinct possibility moving forward.

DJ Vasiljevic battles for the ball with Clemson's Parker Fox while playing for the University of Miami in 2020.

Jaylin Galloway
Perhaps the biggest smokey in this list, but Jaylin Galloway’ extensive improvement over his time in the NBL indicates he could be destined for something bigger.

As the season has progressed for the Sydney Kings, Galloway has moved from being an afterthought in the rotation to one of the first players off the bench. Having just turned 20 that’s no mean feat.

The wing had barely turned 18 when he made his NBL debut back in 2020, and he’s now seen as the secondary lockdown defender on the championship-contending side behind former NBL Defensive Player of the Year winner Justin Simon.

While he still definitely has a long way to go before being considered for a call-up to the best competition in the world, he has all the attributes – especially athletically – to make a real splash in the NBL over the next couple of seasons.

His potential journey onto an NBA roster looms as being something of a Xavier Cooks version two.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jaylin Galloway PUNCHED that ?<br><br>Watch <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL23?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL23</a> live on ESPN via Kayo Sports &amp; Foxtel ? <a href="https://t.co/ypCGeCFDCM">pic.twitter.com/ypCGeCFDCM</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1603678508202369025?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Bul Kuol
If Bul Kuol can cut down his high foul-count, the South Sudanese international star could find a place in the NBA as an almost Joe Ingles-style three-and-d wing.

His 64 made three-pointers in NBL22 were the most ever made by a player in their rookie season, and while his number of attempts from distance reduced in NBL23, he’s taking smarter shots and getting to the rim more efficiently.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Our Bul Kuol has officially set a new all-time record previously held by Shane Heal, but he still has two games left! ?<br><br>What will be the NEW record for three-pointers by an Australian rookie? ???<br><br>Watch on <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNAusNZ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ESPNAusNZ</a> tonight 7:30pm and Saturday 8:00pm via <a href="https://twitter.com/kayosports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kayosports</a> ? <a href="https://t.co/l7EpYR8a09">pic.twitter.com/l7EpYR8a09</a></p>&mdash; Cairns Taipans (@CairnsTaipans) <a href="https://twitter.com/CairnsTaipans/status/1516934231129157632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

DJ Hogg and Tahjere McCall took most of the defensive plaudits for the Taipans this season, but Kuol’s ability to use his length and athleticism to deny his man the ball as a highly desired attribute that can’t be taught. It’s innate, and you either have it or you don’t.

Ahead of linking up with the South Sudanese team for the first time in 2022, Kuol took a detour via Cleveland and Chicago for workouts with the NBA sides – so there are at least two franchises that are both aware of his abilities and – to some extent – interested.

Kuol is definitely a raw talent though and, much like Galloway, has all the athletic attributes to be able to have an impact in the NBA. Whether he can sharpen the technical side of his game to that standard remains to be seen.

Bul Kuol and Perth's Bryce Cotton embrace after a game.