The Portland Trail Blazers are adding depth to their backcourt by signing guard Javonte Cooke to a two-way NBA contract, according to NBA insider Shams Charania.
Cooke, who went undrafted out of Winston-Salem State in 2023, becomes only the second active player in the league to come from a four-year Division II program. His path to the NBA has been defined by steady improvement across multiple G League seasons.
The 26-year-old began his professional career with the Iowa Wolves in 2022 after earning a roster spot through a tryout. He later played for the Minnesota Timberwolves during the 2023 NBA Summer League but was waived before the start of the regular season.
Cooke then returned to Iowa, where he posted 16.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game during the 2023–24 G League campaign while shooting 44.5% from the field and 37.5% from beyond the arc.
In May 2024, Cooke briefly joined the Brampton Honey Badgers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League before returning to the United States. He signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder in October 2024 but was waived after one day, later joining their G League affiliate, the Oklahoma City Blue.
With the Blue, Cooke maintained his scoring consistency, averaging 16.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in 27.3 minutes per game over 31 appearances. Although his three-point accuracy dipped to 32.8%, his all-around production made him one of the team’s key contributors.
Cooke also featured for the Miami Heat in the 2025 NBA Summer League, averaging 9.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in five games.
By joining Portland, Cooke will split time between the Trail Blazers and their G League affiliate, giving him a platform to continue his development.
