Quinn Cook has won two NBA championships in his career, one with the Golden State Warriors in 2018 and another in 2020 alongside LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers.
Cook is no longer playing in the NBA and is pursuing a career overseas. Unfortunately, he has lost two opportunities on account of being a U.S. native and rising global political tensions, he told Andscape, via ESPN.
The guard recently agreed to play for Armée Patriotique Rwandaise Basketball Club in 2026, but learned on Tuesday that APR BBC wouldn’t be playing in the Basketball Africa League because of a political standoff involving the United States and Rwanda.
“My whole life, until now, I’ve never had basketball stop for political things that happened in the world,” Cook said. “It’s a first for me, but it opens your eyes that there is more to life than just basketball. People who depend on basketball for happiness and a job, you have to understand that there are bigger things in life.
“Obviously, I’m a basketball player first. That’s my main job. It’s opened my eyes to get into some other things so when I stop playing in five or six years, I will have the red carpet rolled out to the next things I want to do.”
Cook is willing to consider playing for another team in the BAL.
“I have never been to Africa,” Cook said. “I was excited about checking it out. I also planned on going with my mom and sister. Rwanda was a spot we were supposed to hit, but now I will have to wait and see. Everything happens for a reason, but I hope BAL teams see I’m available and I’m open to play for another team.”
The two-time champion, who played in 188 games in the NBA, also had a deal fall through in Iran.
“I had a deal in Iran, but obviously stuff happened with the government after a back and forth that Iran and America had been having,” Cook said. “So I didn’t feel safe to go. I didn’t end up going and then I got the deal with the BAL. … I didn’t really understand the politics, but now I’m paying attention because it’s really affecting my livelihood.”
Cook is currently in Maryland, where he is working out and waiting for his next opportunity.
“I’m trying to figure this basketball stuff out overseas,” he said. “It’s not as easy as the NBA. It’s been tough trying to find a permanent home. I’ve been bouncing around a little bit.”
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.