Lakers News: Guard Ready To Play With LeBron James, Anthony Davis After Winning Title With Warriors

Quinn Cook is one of six free agents that signed with the Los Angeles Lakers this summer after playing with a different NBA team last season. The 26-year-old could end up being one of the most important players in the group for L.A.’s 2019-2020 campaign.

After agreeing to trade for Anthony Davis, the Lakers entered free agency led by frontcourt players. Davis, LeBron James and Kyle Kuzma are likely to be the team’s top-three scorers. Los Angeles has plenty of question marks in the backcourt, even after giving two-time NBA champion Danny Green a two-year, $30 million contract.

Cook is also a former NBA champion, having won a title with the Golden State Warriors in 2018. The guard was asked to step up during the 2019 NBA Finals when the Warriors dealt with injuries to both Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson.

Cook will have more opportunities to contribute in big moments with the Lakers.

“I think that’s a big reason why they wanted me to come here, just the fact that I’ve been on a championship team,” Cook said to Alex Kennedy of HoopsHype. “I contributed on a championship team, playing well at key moments in the Finals and in big playoff moments and things like that. I think that’s a big reason why they wanted me. And that is a big reason why I wanted to come here too. With my experiences over the last two years, I know there’s no better feeling as a basketball player than to play well at the highest level and on the biggest stage. That was definitely a big reason why I wanted to come to the Lakers.”

After playing just three total minutes in the 2018 finals, Cook saw the court in every single finals’ game last month. The guard made some big shots in Golden State’s Game 2 victory on the road, scoring nine points in 21 minutes. Cook played 27 minutes in Game 3, though he only scored five total points in the series’ last three games.

In three NBA seasons—the last two with the Warriors—Cook has never averaged more than 22.4 minutes per game. He started a career-high 18 games last year when Stephen Curry was dealing with injuries. Cook made the most of his time, averaging 9.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game.

In going from the Warriors to the Lakers, Cook will still play with a team that’s dominated by elite stars, but Los Angeles provides him the chance to play alongside stars that complement his game.

The Duke product was stuck behind two of the greatest shooters in NBA history with Golden State. In L.A., he will benefit from playing in the same lineup as James.

Cook is a career 41.8 percent three-point shooter. You can bet he’ll find plenty of open looks when James and Davis are on the floor.

Between going to James’ basketball camp as a high schooler and playing with the New Orleans Pelicans as a rookie, Cook already has an off-court relationship with the Lakers’ two stars.

“He’s always been a great, reliable vet and mentor to me,” Cook told HoopsHype, regarding James. “I know I can always rely on him. Like I said, he and Kobe were two of my favorite players when I was growing up, so it’s sort of surreal to even have a relationship with him. Playing against him in the Finals was a dream come true for me. Now, getting the chance to be his teammate again is great and another dream come true. I’m really excited for this opportunity. I know he called [the front office] on my behalf to help get me over here to the Lakers, so I’m very appreciative of that.”

Cook noted that Davis was the first person to call him during free agency, calling the big man one of his “best friends in the league.”

Both Cook and DeMarcus Cousins signed with the Lakers after playing for the Warriors last season.