Trail Blazers sign Cook to mult-year deal
February 27, 2004 - NBA G League (G League)
Fayetteville Patriots News Release
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C., February 27, 2004 -- The Portland Trail Blazers have signed G Omar Cook to a multi-year contract.
The 6-foot-1, 190-pound guard was signed to a 10-day contract by the Trail Blazers on February 3rd after starting the season with the Fayetteville Patriots of the National Basketball Development League where he was leading the NBDL in assists, 9.0 apg, and steals, 2.6 spg. Cook was signed to a second 10-day contract on February 16th. In 10 games with Portland, Cook is averaging 1.4 ppg and 2.1 spg in 10.8 mpg.
Omar Cook paid his dues in the NBDL, playing more games (109) than any other player in the 3-year-old league. Cook averaged 9.6 points, 6.0 assists and 1.8 steals during that span.
He compiled 655 assists and 194 steals during his three-year stint in the NBDL, all league-highs. After playing just one season at St. John's, where he was second in the nation in assists, Cook entered the 2001 NBA Draft. He was drafted by the Orlando Magic in the second round before being traded to the Denver Nuggets.
The Dallas Mavericks acquired him after the Nuggets released the Brooklyn native in 2001. After the Mavericks released Cook, he became a Fayetteville Patriot on Jan. 8, 2002.
"It was rough, but I dealt with it," Cook told the Oregonian. "I'm trying to move forward now. I learned a lot on the bus. The NBDL was great for me. It taught me a lot of stuff outside of basketball, just about life and about me growing up as a man. I've taken everything I got from the D League and brought it with me here."
• Discuss this story on the NBA G League message board...
NBA G League Stories from February 27, 2004
- Second Half Surge Lift Dragons To Win Over Altitude - Columbus Riverdragons
- Patriots end five-game losing streak - Fayetteville Patriots
- Roanoke Falls to Flight 94-85 - Roanoke Dazzle
- Haywood County basketball fans share a night with the Altitude - Asheville Altitude
- Trail Blazers sign Cook to mult-year deal - Fayetteville Patriots
- Charleston's Fuller Signs with Hawks, is 9th Gatorade Callup - G League
- Lowgators In First Place - Charleston Lowgators
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.
