HAVING proven himself as the best player in Australia’s domestic league in the past 12 months, Xavier Cooks dominated at international level for the Australian Boomers in the 20-point win over Japan.

The Boomers needed to defeat the Five Reds to advance to the second round of the 2023 FIBA World Cup, coming off a tough three-point loss to Germany just a couple of nights earlier. Ranked third in the world and coming off an Olympic medal, there was plenty of pressure on Australia to keep its tournament alive, but it would need strong performances from multiple players.

The Boomers overcame the slow starts that haunted them in previous games, jumping out to an early lead against Japan and leading by a whopping 22 points at the main change. Although the Five Reds improved drastically on the offensive end in the third quarter, Australia was able to match that output down the other end, and delivered in the final period en route to a crucial 20-point triumph.

One of the biggest factors in Australia’s success in the match was the performance of Cooks, who showcased his value to the team with a massive outing.

Australia (109) def. Japan (89)

Xavier Cooks – 24 points, 16 rebounds, two assists

Over the opening two games of Australia’s World Cup campaign, Cooks had shown the ability to impact the game in limited court time. However, against Japan, he got his true opportunity and took it with both hands.

He exploded for a whopping 24 points, many of which came from crashing the offensive glass. The 2022/23 NBL MVP shot 12/20 from the field, with all attempts coming from inside the paint, where Japan lacked size.

Cooks combined well with the team’s guards to make the right cut and find himself in space in scoring positions. He even provided a few highlights with some thunderous slams that sent shockwaves back to the shores of Australia.

Cooks’ rebounding was vital in getting Australia to the win as well, particularly on the offensive end where he pulled down a miss from himself or his teammates and made amends with a tip in. Of his 16 rebounds, 10 came after a Boomers miss, and helped the team’s score roll on when Japan was making its push with three-point shooting.

Cooks also showed the ability to protect the rim as well, providing a defensive presence the team sorely missed in the loss to Germany. He swatted a pair of Japan shots, and sent a message to the rest of the team that if they drove into the paint, he would challenge in ruthless fashion.

It was a breakout international performance from Cooks, who now has a vital role to play in Australia’s upcoming games.