Javonte Cook keeps finding new stages, and on Sunday he used the NBA Summer League to make a loud one.
The former Winston-Salem State standout scored 21 points as the Phoenix Suns slipped past his old team, the Portland Trail Blazers, 81-79. Cook went 7-for-12 from the field and buried five 3-pointers, turning in one of his best outings of the summer while continuing to push his case for a spot with Phoenix. The matchup carried an extra edge, too, because Cook was doing it against the organization that waived him earlier this year.
That performance fits the path Cook has taken to get here. His college road ran through USC Aiken and Mars Hill before he hit his stride at Winston-Salem State and became one of the CIAA’s top guards. In the 2021-22 season, he averaged 17.5 points and 3.9 rebounds per game while shooting nearly 40% from 3-point range.
One of his biggest nights in a Rams uniform came in the CIAA Tournament, when he exploded for a season-high 31 points and powered Winston-Salem State to a convincing win.
After college, Cook turned pro and signed with the Iowa Wolves for the 2022-23 season. He later earned a spot with the Minnesota Timberwolves’ NBA Summer League team in 2023, then moved on to the Oklahoma City Thunder before landing with the Oklahoma City Blue in the NBA G League.
His first NBA chance arrived during the 2025-26 season, when he signed a two-way contract with the Portland Trail Blazers on Oct. 20, 2025. He played in 19 games before Portland waived him in March 2026.
Now with Phoenix’s Summer League group, Cook is back in the familiar position of trying to earn another NBA opportunity.
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