NEW YORK — After spending 17 years starring on hardwood courts across Europe and the NBA, Omar Cook is back where it all started.

Now an assistant coach with the Cleveland Cavaliers, the former Christ The King and St. John’s standout point guard has returned home to Brooklyn to launch the 1st Annual Omar Cook Basketball Camp tomorrow at Golconda Playground in the Fort Greene area. Held right behind the local Boys & Girls Club where Cook first picked up a basketball, the free camp was created to eliminate financial barriers for young athletes while teaching them the nuances of playmaking, leadership and resilience.

Cook sat down ahead of tomorrow’s event to discuss the vision behind his inaugural camp, his transition to the NBA coaching ranks and what lies ahead for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Returning Home to Fort Greene

For Cook, establishing a free camp at Golconda Playground was less of a decision and more of a calling after nearly two decades playing professionally overseas. “I just thought it was time,” Cook said.

“Finally back home after being overseas for 17 years… I just wanted to give back to the community. Just trying to put kids in positions that I was in growing up, especially from where I’m from.”

By removing the financial constraints often associated with high-level youth sports, Cook aims to offer local athletes an experience he wished he had as a kid: direct access to top-tier NBA and professional coaching.

Teaching Floor Generalship and True Leadership

While modern basketball heavily emphasizes scoring from the guard position, Cook’s camp curriculum centers on the traditional floor general skills that defined his own playing career—communication, high basketball IQ and pass-first playmaking.

“In today’s game as a point guard, you have to score in the NBA. It’s just what it is,” Cook noted. “But we’re trying to make sure we instill in the guys and girls how to lead by making everybody want to be around you. As a player, that’s what separated me… Everybody wanted to play with me.”

Cook recalled how NBA veterans like Deron Williams and Zach Randolph loved sharing the court with him throughout his career—a mindset he hopes to pass along to the next generation of NYC hoopers starting tomorrow morning.

Embracing Adversity and Coaching Growth

When asked what advice he would give to his younger self during his legendary high school and college runs, Cook emphasized the importance of mental toughness and adaptability. “Coming up, I was always the best player around and I never really had to go through adversity,” Cook reflected. “So I would say as a young player, just being able to embrace that adversity in those different environments. Being able to adjust to different situations is the most important part of having longevity in this sport.”

That ability to adapt also helped Cook transition smoothly from the court to the sideline with the Cavaliers. Admitting that he “had no idea what I was doing” when he first began coaching, Cook absorbed techniques from every coach he played under, adding his own personal twist to build an effective coaching style.

Cavaliers Roster Additions, Chemistry and High Expectations

Looking ahead to the upcoming NBA season, Cook expressed excitement about the Cavaliers’ culture and roster development. Having spent years competing at the highest levels in EuroLeague himself, Cook offered unique insight into Cleveland’s addition of former EuroLeague star and Liga ACB MVP Mario Hezonja.

“He’s always been a great talent,” Cook said of Hezonja. “What we’re getting back, he’s coming off an MVP season, so his confidence is super through the roof. If you’re on a high-level EuroLeague team, there is no one-on-one basketball. It’s really focused on the team aspect and team sport. I think him coming off such a great season brings a swagger and confidence, but also some type of humility after going through what he went through to now coming back to the NBA.”

Cook also highlighted Donovan Mitchell’s evolution as both a top-tier performer and a leader off the floor. “Don is a superstar who is always trying to support his teammates,” Cook shared. “Even during a game, he’ll take kids from the upper section and bring them down so they can sit on the floor. He’s that type of superstar.”

When it comes to continuing to maximize the on-court chemistry between Mitchell and big man Evan Mobley in two-man actions like the pick-and-roll and dribble handoffs, Cook noted that tactical details are still being fine-tuned heading into camp. “We started talking about different strategies and stuff like that,” he said.

“We’ll probably get into that in the next couple weeks. They’ve been playing together the last few years, so I know their chemistry is there. It’s just about continuing to build off of what we’ve been doing.”

With the Cavs preparing for the upcoming season, Cook’s immediate focus remains split between refining Cleveland’s system and building a lasting community legacy starting tomorrow in Brooklyn.