NBDL's Omar Cook Called Up to the Boston Celtics
Published on April 17, 2002 under NBA G League (G League)
Fayetteville Patriots News Release
NEW YORK, N.Y., April 17, 2002 â Omar Cook, a 6-foot-1 point guard for the Fayetteville Patriots of the National Basketball Development League, has been called up and signed by the Boston Celtics.
Cook, 20, a former standout at St. John's University, averaged a league-high 7.8 assists per game along with 12.2 points per game, 2.9 rebounds per game and 1.51 steals per game over 31.6 minutes per game in 35 NBDL games (23 starts) en route to earning All-NBDL Second Team honors.
Cook was originally a second round selection (32nd overall) by the Orlando Magic in the 2001 NBA Draft, and was then traded to the Denver Nuggets. Cook was waived by the Nuggets on October 25, 2001 and then signed by the Dallas Mavericks on November 25. Dallas then waived him on December 28, and the Patriots signed him on January 7, 2002.
As a freshman at St. John's, Cook averaged 15.3 ppg, 8.7 apg and 3.0 rpg for the Red Storm. He was named Third All-Big East, joining Seton Hall's Eddie Griffin as the only freshman in the conference to be selected to an All-Conference team. Cook finished second in the nation in assists (8.7 apg) behind Markus Carr of Cal State-Northridge (8.9 apg). His 252 assists set a freshman school record, previously held by Erick Barkley (Portland Trail Blazers) and ranks second on the all-time single-season chart. He also averaged 19.0 ppg, 7.0 apg and 4.3 spg as a senior at Christ the King High School in New York and named a McDonald's All-American.
Cook is the eighth player called up to the NBA from the NBDL since the league launched on November 16, 2001. Chris Andersen, a 6-foot-10, 230 pound power forward from the Fayetteville Patriots and the NBDL's number one overall draft selection, was the league's first player called up to the NBA when he signed a contract with the Denver Nuggets on November 21, 2001. Jason Hart, a 6-foot-3, 181 pound point guard from the Asheville Altitude was the league's second player called up to the NBA when he was signed by the San Antonio Spurs on December 19, 2001. Anthony Johnson, a 6-foot-3, 190 pound guard from the Mobile Revelers was the league's first player to be signed to an NBA 10-Day Contract when he signed with the New Jersey Nets. Johnson signed the first of two consecutive 10-Day Contracts on January 7, 2002, and then signed for the remainder of the 2001-02 season on January 28, 2002. Rusty LaRue, a 6-foot-3, 190 pound guard from the Asheville Altitude and NBA veteran was signed by the Utah Jazz to a 10-Day Contract on January 28, 2002. LaRue signed a second 10-Day Contract with the Utah Jazz on February 12, 2002 and was signed for the remainder of the 2001-02 season on February 21, 2002. Tremaine Fowlkes, a 6-foot-8, All-NBDL First Team selection from the Columbus Riverdragons was signed by the Los Angeles Clippers to the first of two consecutive 10-Day contracts on February 23, 2002. The Clippers signed Fowlkes for the remainder of the NBA season on March 16, 2002. Isaac Fontaine, a 6-foot-4, All-NBDL guard from the Mobile Revelers signed to a 10-Day contract with the Memphis Grizzlies on March 3, 2002. Ansu Sesay, the NBDL's MVP from the Greenville Groove, was signed to a 10-Day contract by the Seattle SuperSonics on March 29, 2002, and then signed for the remainder of the season on April 8.
The NBDL, the NBA's minor league, includes the Fayetteville Patriots (N.C.), North Charleston Lowgators (S.C.), Huntsville Flight (Ala.), Mobile Revelers (Ala.), Roanoke Dazzle (Va.), Columbus Riverdragons (Ga.), Greenville Groove (S.C.), and Asheville Altitude (N.C.). The league offers players the opportunity to develop their talent in a highly competitive atmosphere under the NBA's umbrella. The NBDL serves as a source of on-court talent for the NBA's 29 teams and as a diverse human resources pool for the NBA and its teams by training employees in management, operations, public relations, sales and marketing positions in each NBDL city.
NBDL players must be 20 years of age or older to play in the league. NBDL teams do not have a direct affiliation with specific NBA teams. Development league players are eligible to play for any NBA team.
NBA G League Stories from April 17, 2002
- NBDL's Omar Cook Called Up to the Boston Celtics - Fayetteville Patriots
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
