Javonte Cooke Bio
Javonte Cooke (born July 11, 1999) is an American professional basketball player who most recently played for the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association (NBA) on a two-way contract, while also appearing for the Rip City Remix of the NBA G League. A 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) point guard listed at 185 lb (84 kg), Cooke went undrafted in the 2023 NBA draft and has built his career through perseverance in the G League and summer leagues. He played college basketball for the Mars Hill Lions and the Winston-Salem State Rams, where he developed into one of the most respected scorers in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (CIAA).
Early Life and Background
Javonte Cooke was born on July 11, 1999, in Columbia, South Carolina. He grew up in a close-knit household as the son of Jermaine and Valerie Cooke and has two older siblings, Acqwon and Keyona. His upbringing in the capital city of South Carolina exposed him early to a community with a strong tradition of basketball and youth athletics.
Cooke attended Covenant Classical School in Columbia, where he quickly emerged as the centerpiece of the basketball program. As a senior, he averaged 23 points, 9 rebounds, 4.5 steals, and 3.5 assists per game, demonstrating a versatile all-around game. His dominant senior season earned him SCISA A Player of the Year honors, and he was later named Most Outstanding Player of the Georgia vs. South Carolina All-Star Game, signaling that he was among the top prep players in the region.
Path to Professional Basketball
Following high school, Cooke initially enrolled at the University of South Carolina Aiken, where he redshirted his freshman year before deciding to transfer in search of a stronger fit. He landed at Mars Hill University, a program competing in NCAA Division II, and spent three seasons with the Mars Hill Lions from 2018 to 2021. During his time at Mars Hill, he appeared in 47 games with 27 starts and averaged 14 points and 5.7 rebounds across two seasons, reaching double figures in scoring 34 times and posting nine games of 20 or more points in 2019–2020. His steady development at the Division II level earned him a spot on the preseason All-South Atlantic Conference Second Team in November 2020.
Seeking a higher level of competition, Cooke transferred to Winston-Salem State University for the 2021–2022 season. He quickly became the offensive engine of the Rams, averaging 17.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.8 steals per game while helping the program claim the CIAA Southern Division title. He finished the season ranked fifth in the conference in scoring, sixth in field goal percentage, and first in three-point field goal percentage and three-point field goals per game. His stellar play earned him HBCU Player of the Week, CIAA Player of the Week, and BOXTOROW National Player of the Week recognition, along with All-CIAA Backcourt Team and CIAA All-Tournament Team selections. He closed his college career with 1,220 total points and was invited to the 2022 HBCU All-Star Game.
Javonte Cooke Career
Early Career (2022–2024)
Cooke began his professional career on October 25, 2022, when he signed with the Iowa Wolves of the NBA G League after a tryout. He spent the better part of two seasons in Iowa, working to sharpen his perimeter game and adjust to the pace of professional basketball. After going undrafted in the 2023 NBA draft, he earned a spot on the Minnesota Timberwolves’ 2023 NBA Summer League roster, which provided a brief but valuable window with an NBA organization.
On October 21, 2023, Cooke signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves but was waived the same day, after which he rejoined the Iowa Wolves. The experience reinforced his resolve, and he used the 2023–2024 G League season to continue his development as a scoring point guard with a deep shooting range.
Iowa Wolves Breakthrough (2022–2024)
Cooke’s longest and most formative professional tenure came with the Iowa Wolves, where he appeared from 2022 through 2024. Joining the team as a tryout invitee, he earned a regular rotation role and established himself as a reliable perimeter scorer and floor general. His time in Iowa gave him the consistency he had lacked as a college transfer, allowing him to focus on long-term skill growth rather than frequent roster movement.
The experience culminated in an NBA Summer League opportunity with the Minnesota Timberwolves, offering a glimpse of higher-level basketball. Although his official NBA contract lasted only a single day, the call-up validated his trajectory and prepared him for subsequent opportunities in both the NBA G League and overseas competition.
Brampton Honey Badgers Era (2024)
On May 10, 2024, Cooke signed with the Brampton Honey Badgers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League, expanding his professional resume into international play. His stint with Brampton was brief, as he was waived on June 29 following a loss to Scarborough, but the experience exposed him to a new style of play and a different competitive environment.
Oklahoma City Blue Era (2024–2025)
After spending the 2024 NBA Summer League with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Cooke signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder on October 11, 2024, only to be waived the following day. He quickly landed with the Oklahoma City Blue of the NBA G League on October 25, where he continued to develop his perimeter scoring and playmaking skills. His season with the Blue positioned him for another NBA opportunity the following fall.
Portland Trail Blazers / Rip City Remix Era (2025–2026)
On October 20, 2025, Cooke signed a two-way contract with the Portland Trail Blazers, linking him simultaneously to the Rip City Remix of the NBA G League. He made his NBA regular season debut on November 20 against the Chicago Bulls, recording four points, one assist, and one steal in a narrow 122–121 loss. Across 19 appearances during his rookie NBA campaign, he averaged 1.2 points, 1.0 rebound, and 0.4 assists, gaining valuable experience at the highest level of the sport. The Trail Blazers waived Cooke on March 2, 2026, concluding his first NBA chapter.
Driving Style and Strengths
Cooke is best known as a long-range shooting point guard with a smooth perimeter stroke and the court vision to set up teammates. He combines scoring instincts with solid rebounding for his position, allowing him to contribute on both ends of the floor. His experience across multiple G League stops has helped him refine his decision-making and pace in transition.
Notable Events and Milestones
Cooke’s most significant milestones include his HBCU All-Star Game invitation in 2022, his NBA regular season debut with the Portland Trail Blazers in November 2025, and the 1,220 career points he tallied in college. He also earned All-CIAA First Team recognition in 2022 and multiple weekly player-of-the-week awards, marking him as one of the top HBCU talents of his class.
Javonte Cooke Career Wins
Javonte Cooke’s professional résumé is built less on championship trophies and more on steady progression across multiple teams and leagues. His verified career wins and recognitions include a CIAA Southern Division title at Winston-Salem State, First-team All-CIAA honors in 2022, and a series of weekly conference and national player-of-the-week awards at the HBCU level. He has not yet recorded an NBA regular season win as a primary contributor, with his lone NBA appearance resulting in a one-point loss to Chicago.
College and G League Highlights
Cooke’s most decorated stretch came during the 2021–2022 season at Winston-Salem State, where he helped the Rams claim the CIAA Southern Division title and posted top-five conference numbers in scoring and shooting efficiency. In the NBA G League, his longest tenure with the Iowa Wolves from 2022 to 2024 provided his most consistent stretch of professional play.
Javonte Cooke Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Javonte Cooke is the son of Jermaine and Valerie Cooke and was raised in Columbia, South Carolina, alongside two older siblings, Acqwon and Keyona. His family provided the foundation for his basketball journey, and his parents have been credited as steady supporters throughout his college and professional career.
2025–2026 Season Performance
Cooke’s 2025–2026 season represented his first taste of NBA action, beginning when he signed a two-way contract with the Portland Trail Blazers on October 20, 2025. Splitting time between the Rip City Remix and Portland, he made his NBA debut on November 20, 2025, against the Chicago Bulls, finishing with four points, one assist, and one steal in a 122–121 loss. Across 19 NBA appearances, he averaged 1.2 points, 1.0 rebound, and 0.4 assists, with his minutes primarily coming in late-game and developmental situations.
The Trail Blazers waived Cooke on March 2, 2026, ending his rookie NBA season. Despite the short stint, the campaign marked a major milestone, validating his path from undrafted free agent to NBA roster member. Looking ahead, Cooke is expected to continue pursuing opportunities in the NBA G League and overseas, with the goal of earning another NBA contract.
