Inner Drive: Alex Cooper Takes The Wheel As Dallas Skyline Map Their Road To The TBL Playoffs
Nearly leaving pro basketball behind, the former standout high school QB is providing timely scoring and a clear sense of direction in Dallas while juggling two careers.
Dallas, Texas – Somewhere along the nearly four hour drive north from Sugar Land to Dallas, Alex Cooper took a moment to look back and look ahead.
He knows exactly how far he has come and the direction he’s currently heading in.
The late night road trip home was made a lot more enjoyable thanks to the Dallas Skyline earning back-to-back wins over the weekend against the Imperials and the Waco Royals, part of a Texas triangle schedule in the very tough Central Division of The Basketball League. In customary form, Cooper handled his business. The 6’1 guard and Dallas native not only currently leads the team in scoring averaging 21 points per game and ranks among the best in the league from the charity stripe (83.9% free-throw percentage), but the kid out of Mesquite High School is a major reason why the Skyline are in the thick of a chase to the postseason with Dallas (14-5) sitting behind Shreveport Mavericks (17-3) and the Enid Outlaws (17-3) who are jockeying for first.
If Dallas is truly serious about their drive to the 2022 TBL playoffs, trusting Alex behind the wheel to help deliver the goods is a very smart move.
During his first year playing professional basketball he’s also splitting time during the week logging long hours on the road as a truck driver. Up and on the road at 4:00 in the morning and working anywhere from 10-12 hour shifts on some days, Alex earned his commercial driver’s license (CDL) following his accomplished college career in Division 2 at the University of Arkansas-Fort Lewis where Cooper etched his name in the history books by finishing his career as the school's and conference's all-time leader in assists, single-game assists leader and the school's all-time steals leader. For the former Honorable Mention All-Conference selection, life has taken him from the driver’s seat to now pursuing his first real shot at playing professional basketball.
One man. Two careers. Driving truck during the week. Basketball on the weekends.
All gas.
No breaks.
Since suiting-up this season in the TBL with the Dallas Skyline, Alex Cooper has become one of the league’s bright young stars who is focused equally on the journey as he is the destination.
You have made some big noise in Dallas with this being your first year in professional basketball. What has the experience been like for you playing in the TBL overall and at what point of the season did it hit you that you were now a "pro"?
The experience I have is pretty awesome. I’ve learned a lot on the way up. There’s many ups and downs when it comes to basketball, but so far my experience with Dallas and TBL has been a great one. I am just hoping to keep connecting heading into the playoffs.
Being a pro is an amazing opportunity. You have to keep your mind on everyone you’re playing against because they're coming at you trying to accomplish the same things you are. So I would definitely say after my first game it really hit me that I was a professional with the love from the fans and it went from there.
You found a good groove early on the season and it's kept up with you being the leading scorer on the team thus far. Did you anticipate being able to score the ball like you have? What do you attribute that scoring ability to?
Coming in I know I could score the ball at a high rate. It was just hoping to be in a good situation to be able to score. And my teammates want me to score and make plays so they put me in the right spots to do that. I can shoot the ball and get hot anytime and at the same time, I am getting to the line and that’s a big part of the game. I’m just happy I can play my game.
I understand you were a standout football player in high school at Mesquite High School (District 12-5A MVP in football and basketball and was named to the Dallas All-Area Team in football and basketball) as well as doing your thing on the basketball court. Do you feel like some of those quarterback abilities have carried over to hoops for you at this level? How so?
Yes, I had been playing football my whole life. Eventually I had to choose one and I chose basketball. Being a quarterback made me become a leader on and off the court. I’m the most vocal guy on the court and have that football grit that I bring with myself playing basketball. I’m a scorer but at the same time I see plays. I could say that’s my QB ability. My assists are up there too, so it makes me versatile when I can score and assist on plays.
Was it hard to walk away from football? What do you miss the most about playing?
Man, that was the hardest thing I ever did. A lot of people say I should have gone on to play football instead. I always think “what if” till this day! I miss the crowd, the energy, making plays that people don’t think is possible, all that! I look at college football games today and will see things QB’s will miss. I catch myself coaching through the TV sometimes.
Hey, there's the USFL (Houston Gamblers) and a host of arena football teams around Texas...maybe the football dream isn't dead yet?
Nah nah, it’s dead. It’s been too long I think. I’ll continue to dream about it!
Speaking of "coaching through the TV", can you share about your coaching career now on the sidelines in youth basketball with Dream Big Athletics (DBA) and what it means to you to be able to work with those kids? Do you see yourself in them at all?
Yes, it’s my first year doing it and I have a nephew that’s 5 years old – Ayden Buerck – and I have always wanted to coach him so I made a team and I fell in love with all the kids like they are my own. It’s just a blessing to give back to the game what I learned and I try to push them to do something they love. They are way better than when I was 7 years old. It’s just a blessing to see them continue to grow.
I saw an interview you did where you mentioned being away from basketball for a few years, getting your commercial driver’s license (CDL), and driving truck. Can you share more about that part of your work career and what it has taught you as you play ball?
Getting my CDL was the best thing that I did to be honest. It’s great money and I will always have it, but I told myself I will give basketball one more try and now I’m here. I still drive trucks throughout the week and hoop on weekends. I worked for Pepsi delivering drinks to gas stations starting at 4AM and I finish whenever I finish my truck, which is usually around 3 or 4 o’clock in the afternoon. I am also starting a new job as well so we’ll see how that goes.
That's a serious work ethic to work a full time job and also pursue your professional playing dreams. Where does that work ethic come from for you? And when you’re driving truck, did you ever imagine you'd be back on the court starting your pro career?
Just knowing I had to get money and pay bills, but at the same time wanting to still hoop and see if I still had something left in the tank. It just had to be done. I always would tell people I’m done playing basketball, but I was in a local men’s leagues going crazy on the court. I never thought I would be in this spot right now.
After college in Arkansas-Fort Smith did you pursue a professional career and try to play in Europe or the G-League? Or what led to you hitting pause on your playing career?
After college I went to an overseas combine and messed my ankle up. Once that happened I got stuck in the real world. Bills and everything started hitting so I ended up getting a job and just kind of let basketball slip from me.
A lot of guys would have just given up on the dream. What have you learned the most about yourself through this entire process?
To stay on top of what you love and never give up. It can be done. But at the same time, everyone's situation is different.
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Wendell Maxey has covered and written about professional basketball and sports for 19 years and has previously been featured on ESPN.com, NBA.com, USA Today, FOX Sports, and SLAM Magazine among other publications and outlets. Connect with him on Twitter and LinkedIn or read through his archive on Linktree.