Torrey Craig says Xavier Cooks is one of the best people in the NBL, pledging not to judge his Sydney Kings teammate over a second positive drug test in as many years.
It has been a tumultuous off-season for 31-year-old Cooks, who tested positive to Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) during the Kings' championship series win and served a one-month ban from early June.
THC is a psychoactive compound found in cannabis and is not considered a performance-enhancing drug, but is nevertheless banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency during competition.
In a club statement released earlier this month, Boomers star Cooks apologised for the failed drug test, which came after he tested positive to cocaine late in the 2024/25 season.
Former NBA player Craig returned to Sydney on Saturday for the Kings' championship defence, and voiced his support for his teammate.
"Everybody goes through things in life. People make mistakes," Craig told AAP.
"But if you know X (Cooks) , he's one of the best guys you know. Probably one of the best dudes in the NBL.
"I can't judge a player off the mistakes they make. I just judge off their character and how they treat people. If you know X, everybody loves X."
Craig, who joined the Kings midway through last season, felt the club was united behind former Washington Wizards forward Cooks.
"X is my brother, I love X. The whole Sydney organisation, the city, supports him," he said.
For his part, Craig spent seven weeks of the off-season playing with Puerto Rican side Mets de Guaynabo.
Craig then featured in the USA's latest round of World Cup qualifiers - hitting a game-winning three-pointer against the Dominican Republic - before some much-needed downtime with family in Dallas, where he owns a home.
The 35-year-old now turns his attention to the Kings' task of winning back-to-back NBL titles.
Reigning runners-up Adelaide loom as championship threats, as do Melbourne United, who have recruited NBA players Cole Anthony, Joe Ingles and Luke Travers for Jacob Chance's first season as coach.
"Each season is a new task, right? Last year was last year, we were able to win it but teams have gotten better," Craig said.
"New players have come into the league. I just think we have to take it day by day and just get better at the little things you need to get better on, and continue to do the good things well."
