At last, dream scenario for Cook
From G League to NBA starter
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Quinn Cook was watching the Warriors on his TV on Monday night at Beach Street Inn and Suites — a quaint two-star hotel just a short walk from Santa Cruz’s famed boardwalk — when Stephen Curry lunged for a steal, turned his right foot awkwardly and tumbled to the court.
As he watched Curry limp toward the visitors’ locker room in New Orleans, Santa Cruz Warriors staffer Luke Loucks told Cook: “Be ready for a call.” Less than 48 hours later, Cook high-fived his Golden State teammates as his name blared over the PA system at Charlotte’s Spectrum Center.
Such a whirlwind promotion from the G League to the starting lineup of the defending NBA champions belied all that went into Cook reaching that moment. In the 29 months since he went undrafted out of Duke, Cook has been waived four times and signed three 10-day contracts. Now, with Curry sidelined at least two weeks with a badly sprained ankle, Cook hopes to hush anyone still questioning whether he is an NBA-caliber player.
“Everyone knew his moment would come at some point,” said Kevin Durant, who grew up with Cook in the Washington, D.C., area. “It’s about him just staying consistent and confident, just knowing that you’ve got to keep putting in the time for these moments to continue to happen. He knows that. He plays like a vet.”
One of Golden State’s two players on a two-way deal, Cook navigates a split exis-
tence, yo-yoing between the NBA’s most loaded team and its G League affiliate in Santa Cruz. He keeps a black duffel bag packed with essentials — underwear, socks, sweat suits, T-shirts — in case he must make Highway 17’s winding trek across the Santa Cruz Mountains at a moment’s notice.
Per his contract, Cook can spend up to 45 days with Golden State and the rest of the season with Santa Cruz. His $75,000 G League salary is augmented by a prorated portion of the NBA rookie minimum salary — roughly $816,000 this season — for any days he is with the big club.
Whenever the Warriors recall him for added backcourt depth, Cook enjoys the NBA’s perks: suites in the RitzCarlton, charter flights, lavish meals, use of the team’s car service, raucous crowds in world-class arenas. It is in stark contrast to his familiar G League routine.
When road games are too far away to bus to, Cook curls his 6-foot-2, 179pound frame into coach seats on commercial flights. He sleeps in budget hotels in such basketball outposts as Sioux Falls, S.D.; Erie, Pa.; Hidalgo, Texas; and Des Moines, Iowa. Cook’s $50 per diem for meals is spent at an array of chain restaurants; Buffalo Wild Wings is a Santa Cruz staple.
Regardless of the league, Cook has excelled. He is the 2015-16 D-League Rookie of the Year, two-time D-League All-Star and D-League All-Star Game MVP. His per-36-minute averages in 18 NBA games — 14.6 points on 50 percent shooting and 5.3 assists — suggest he can play at that level.
However, many front offices view him as a three-point specialist who is too small to defend many guards. Cook signed a training-camp deal this past summer with the Hawks, only to be one of the team’s final preseason cuts.
Since inking a two-way contract with Golden State in mid-October, he has impressed coaches and teammates with his professionalism, long-range shooting and command of the offense. His averages through 10 games with Santa Cruz — 25.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 8.4 assists and 1.4 steals in 35 minutes — are impressive.
“I know my role,” Cook said. “I know the situation I’m in. I talked to (general manager) Bob (Myers) and (head coach) Steve (Kerr) before the season started. When stuff goes on, I can never be overwhelmed. That’s just the role I’m in.”
The morning after watching Curry sprain his right ankle, Cook grabbed his black duffel bag and flew first-class to Charlotte. Kerr, careful not to overload 32-year-old Shaun Livingston, surprised many by tabbing Cook as his starting point guard Wednesday against the Hornets.
A good number of family and friends, including one of his former assistant coaches at nearby Duke, were on hand as Cook overcame some early nerves to post eight points, three assists and three rebounds in 22 minutes.
“We knew when we signed him to the two-way that if this situation arose, this is what he would do,” Kerr said. “He’s proven it in the league before. He’s rock solid. A great teammate. He just fits in.”
Cook may have a tough time getting a regular NBA deal with the Warriors. With Curry and Livingston on longterm contracts, Cook doesn’t figure to be better than third string in the near future. Solid showings in Curry’s absence, however, could pave the way for a roster spot with another NBA club.
That was hardly Cook’s concern as he walked toward the team bus late Wednesday night. After spending much of the past seven weeks at Beach Street Inn and Suites, Cook was just pleased to stay in a five-star hotel the next couple nights in Detroit.
“Should be nice,” Cook said.