He feels uncomfortable within the position however Sydney Kings’ co-captain and NBL grand closing collection MVP Xavier Cooks has been lauded for his leadership by coach Chase Buford.
Ahead Cooks was an enormous determine in Sydney’s 97-88 win over Tasmania on Wednesday which earned them a 3-0 sweep and their first NBL title in 17 years.
He completed the season with 9 consecutive double doubles, scoring 22 factors on 80 per cent capturing from the sector, and bagging 13 rebounds, seven assists and two blocks.
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After an injury-plagued first two seasons with Sydney, 26-year-old Cooks has blossomed in his position as co-captain with veteran guard Shaun Bruce.
“I don’t feel comfortable leading this team,” Cooks stated.
“I get nervous every game and I overthink everything at home but I guess it paid off.”
Buford shortly dismissed the modesty of Cooks.
“He feels like he has an impostor syndrome as a leader, he’s the frickin’ leader of this team through and through,” Buford stated.
“From the get go, I felt like he’s tried to shut that and we’ve rallied around him the whole season.
“He is been our chief on offence, he is been our chief in defence, he is been our chief in huddles.
“It’s special to see as a coach when guys grow into themselves as a person as much as a player, and we saw that in spades from this dude this year.
“It was obvious very early to the teaching workers and I feel to the remainder of the workforce that this was our chief and we adopted him each step of the way in which.”
