Quinn Cook: Political issues prevent his international basketball career
Two-time NBA champion Quinn Cook has seen two job opportunities in international basketball cut short this year due to global political issues related to his home country, the United States. The player himself revealed this. Recently, Cook had agreed to play for the Armée Patriotique Rwandaise Basketball Club (APR BBC) in the upcoming 2026 season of the Basketball Africa League. However, the point guard, with five years of NBA experience, was informed on Tuesday that APR BBC decided not to participate in the BAL due to a political conflict between the United States and Rwanda. This is not the only time Cook has been affected by the political situation. In early January, he had also agreed to a contract to play in Iran, but ultimately decided not to go due to fear of a war between the United States and Iran, which is now taking place.The APR BBC, which qualified for the next BAL season as the champion of the Rwandan league, is owned and operated by the Rwandan Ministry of Defense. APR BBC was scheduled to play against Al Ahly Ly of Libya in the opening game of the BAL in the Kalahari Conference on March 27 in Pretoria, South Africa. The United States imposed visa restrictions on “several high-ranking Rwandan officials for fueling instability” in eastern Congo earlier this month. In light of that news, APR BBC, based in Kigali, Rwanda, decided not to participate in the BAL. The coach of APR BBC is James Maye Jr., an American who used to coach Cook and recruited him to join the team. Cook also spoke with former NBA point guard Chasson Randle, who told him about his positive experience when he played for APR BBC. Cook agreed to a contract with APR BBC on March 5, and the Maryland player was excited to go to Africa for the first time and for his family to be able to watch his BAL games on NBATV. However, Cook felt that something was not right when he reached the week without a plane ticket to Kigali to train with APR BBC for the BAL season.“Never before in my life, until now, had basketball been stopped due to political issues occurring in the world. It’s the first time for me, but it opens your eyes to the fact that there’s more to life than just basketball. Those who depend on basketball for happiness and a job, must understand that there are bigger things in life”.
Quinn Cook
The BAL has preliminary games this season in Pretoria, South Africa, and Rabat, Morocco. The playoffs and championship game, which will be held in Kigali from May 22 to 31, are still planned, according to a source. It is expected that APR BBC will be replaced by another Rwandan team. Patriots BBC, Tigers BBC and Rwanda Energy Group (REG) BBC are candidates. Cook said he would be open to signing for another BAL team.“I was very sad and dejected yesterday when I found out I wasn’t going to go. It’s been difficult for me to go abroad. So, when I finally commit to something and make an effort to do it and finally rationalize that I’m going to be away for a month or two months, I’m ready to go. And then, you can’t go. Not again. But it’s okay. Keep working”.
Quinn Cook
Cook agreed to play with Esteghlal BC of the Iranian Basketball Super League in Tehran in early January, but fear of a possible war between the United States and Iran worried Cook, his mother, and his sister. He finally decided not to go at the end of January, before the United States and Israel became involved in a military conflict with Iran on February 28. Cook averaged 6.4 points and 1.6 assists in 188 NBA games with the Mavericks, Pelicans, Warriors, Lakers and Cavaliers. The former Duke player won NBA titles with the Warriors in 2018 and the Lakers in 2020. The two-time G League All-Star has also played internationally in Russia, China, Puerto Rico and Saudi Arabia. His last professional game was in April 2025 with the Fujian SBS Xunxing Sturgeons in the Chinese Basketball Association. Cook is training in Maryland hoping to get a job soon in a safe environment. “I’m trying to figure this out about basketball abroad. It’s not as easy as in the NBA. It’s been difficult to find a permanent home. I’ve been moving around a bit,” the player concluded.“I have never been to Africa. I was excited to take a look. I was also planning to go with my mother and my sister. Rwanda was a place we were supposed to go, but now I will have to wait and see. Everything happens for a reason, but I hope the BAL teams see that I am available and open to playing for another team”.
Quinn Cook
