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Michael Cooper

Michael Jerome Cooper (Mike)

Position: Guard-Forward ▪ Height: 6-5 ▪ Weight: 170 lbs.
Born: April 15, 1956 in Los Angeles, California
High School: Pasadena in Pasadena, California
College: University of New Mexico
Draft: Los Angeles Lakers, 3rd round (16th pick, 60th overall), 1978 NBA Draft
NBA Debut: December 22, 1978
As Coach: 1 Yr, 4-10, .286 W-L% (Full Record)

21

Fan Ratings

Fine Details ▪ Last Updated Feb 11, 2012, 6:45AM
All-Time Rank: #212. Antonio McDyess… #213. Randy Smith… #214. MICHAEL COOPER… #214. Dick Van Arsdale… #216. Sean Elliott… #216. Jason Richardson… 

Totals

 ▪ 
 ▪ 
Season Age Tm Lg G GS MP FG FGA FG% 3P 3PA 3P% FT FTA FT% ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS
1978-79 22 LAL NBA 3 7 3 6 .500 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 6
1979-80 23 LAL NBA 82 1973 303 578 .524 5 20 .250 111 143 .776 101 128 229 221 86 38 142 215 722
1980-81 24 LAL NBA 81 2625 321 654 .491 4 19 .211 117 149 .785 121 215 336 332 133 78 164 249 763
1981-82 25 LAL NBA 76 14 2197 383 741 .517 2 17 .118 139 171 .813 84 185 269 230 120 61 151 216 907
1982-83 26 LAL NBA 82 3 2148 266 497 .535 5 21 .238 102 130 .785 82 192 274 315 115 50 128 208 639
1983-84 27 LAL NBA 82 9 2387 273 549 .497 38 121 .314 155 185 .838 53 209 262 482 113 67 148 267 739
1984-85 28 LAL NBA 82 20 2189 276 593 .465 35 123 .285 115 133 .865 56 199 255 429 93 49 156 208 702
1985-86 29 LAL NBA 82 15 2269 274 606 .452 63 163 .387 147 170 .865 44 200 244 466 89 43 151 238 758
1986-87 30 LAL NBA 82 2 2253 322 736 .438 89 231 .385 126 148 .851 58 196 254 373 78 43 102 199 859
1987-88 31 LAL NBA 61 8 1793 189 482 .392 57 178 .320 97 113 .858 50 178 228 289 66 26 101 136 532
1988-89 32 LAL NBA 80 13 1943 213 494 .431 80 210 .381 81 93 .871 33 158 191 314 72 32 94 186 587
1989-90 33 LAL NBA 80 10 1851 191 493 .387 50 157 .318 83 94 .883 59 168 227 215 67 36 91 206 515
Career NBA 873 94 23635 3014 6429 .469 428 1260 .340 1273 1529 .833 741 2028 2769 3666 1033 523 1429 2329 7729

Per Game

 ▪ 
 ▪ 
Season Age Tm Lg G GS MP FG FGA FG% 3P 3PA 3P% FT FTA FT% ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS
1978-79 22 LAL NBA 3 2.3 1.0 2.0 .500 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.3 0.3 2.0
1979-80 23 LAL NBA 82 24.1 3.7 7.0 .524 0.1 0.2 .250 1.4 1.7 .776 1.2 1.6 2.8 2.7 1.0 0.5 1.7 2.6 8.8
1980-81 24 LAL NBA 81 32.4 4.0 8.1 .491 0.0 0.2 .211 1.4 1.8 .785 1.5 2.7 4.1 4.1 1.6 1.0 2.0 3.1 9.4
1981-82 25 LAL NBA 76 14 28.9 5.0 9.8 .517 0.0 0.2 .118 1.8 2.3 .813 1.1 2.4 3.5 3.0 1.6 0.8 2.0 2.8 11.9
1982-83 26 LAL NBA 82 3 26.2 3.2 6.1 .535 0.1 0.3 .238 1.2 1.6 .785 1.0 2.3 3.3 3.8 1.4 0.6 1.6 2.5 7.8
1983-84 27 LAL NBA 82 9 29.1 3.3 6.7 .497 0.5 1.5 .314 1.9 2.3 .838 0.6 2.5 3.2 5.9 1.4 0.8 1.8 3.3 9.0
1984-85 28 LAL NBA 82 20 26.7 3.4 7.2 .465 0.4 1.5 .285 1.4 1.6 .865 0.7 2.4 3.1 5.2 1.1 0.6 1.9 2.5 8.6
1985-86 29 LAL NBA 82 15 27.7 3.3 7.4 .452 0.8 2.0 .387 1.8 2.1 .865 0.5 2.4 3.0 5.7 1.1 0.5 1.8 2.9 9.2
1986-87 30 LAL NBA 82 2 27.5 3.9 9.0 .438 1.1 2.8 .385 1.5 1.8 .851 0.7 2.4 3.1 4.5 1.0 0.5 1.2 2.4 10.5
1987-88 31 LAL NBA 61 8 29.4 3.1 7.9 .392 0.9 2.9 .320 1.6 1.9 .858 0.8 2.9 3.7 4.7 1.1 0.4 1.7 2.2 8.7
1988-89 32 LAL NBA 80 13 24.3 2.7 6.2 .431 1.0 2.6 .381 1.0 1.2 .871 0.4 2.0 2.4 3.9 0.9 0.4 1.2 2.3 7.3
1989-90 33 LAL NBA 80 10 23.1 2.4 6.2 .387 0.6 2.0 .318 1.0 1.2 .883 0.7 2.1 2.8 2.7 0.8 0.5 1.1 2.6 6.4
Career NBA 873 94 27.1 3.5 7.4 .469 0.5 1.4 .340 1.5 1.8 .833 0.8 2.3 3.2 4.2 1.2 0.6 1.6 2.7 8.9

Per 36 Minutes

 ▪ 
 ▪ 
Season Age Tm Lg G GS MP FG FGA FG% 3P 3PA 3P% FT FTA FT% ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS
1978-79 22 LAL NBA 3 7 15.4 30.9 .500 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 5.1 0.0 5.1 5.1 30.9
1979-80 23 LAL NBA 82 1973 5.5 10.5 .524 0.1 0.4 .250 2.0 2.6 .776 1.8 2.3 4.2 4.0 1.6 0.7 2.6 3.9 13.2
1980-81 24 LAL NBA 81 2625 4.4 9.0 .491 0.1 0.3 .211 1.6 2.0 .785 1.7 2.9 4.6 4.6 1.8 1.1 2.2 3.4 10.5
1981-82 25 LAL NBA 76 14 2197 6.3 12.1 .517 0.0 0.3 .118 2.3 2.8 .813 1.4 3.0 4.4 3.8 2.0 1.0 2.5 3.5 14.9
1982-83 26 LAL NBA 82 3 2148 4.5 8.3 .535 0.1 0.4 .238 1.7 2.2 .785 1.4 3.2 4.6 5.3 1.9 0.8 2.1 3.5 10.7
1983-84 27 LAL NBA 82 9 2387 4.1 8.3 .497 0.6 1.8 .314 2.3 2.8 .838 0.8 3.2 4.0 7.3 1.7 1.0 2.2 4.0 11.1
1984-85 28 LAL NBA 82 20 2189 4.5 9.8 .465 0.6 2.0 .285 1.9 2.2 .865 0.9 3.3 4.2 7.1 1.5 0.8 2.6 3.4 11.5
1985-86 29 LAL NBA 82 15 2269 4.3 9.6 .452 1.0 2.6 .387 2.3 2.7 .865 0.7 3.2 3.9 7.4 1.4 0.7 2.4 3.8 12.0
1986-87 30 LAL NBA 82 2 2253 5.1 11.8 .438 1.4 3.7 .385 2.0 2.4 .851 0.9 3.1 4.1 6.0 1.2 0.7 1.6 3.2 13.7
1987-88 31 LAL NBA 61 8 1793 3.8 9.7 .392 1.1 3.6 .320 1.9 2.3 .858 1.0 3.6 4.6 5.8 1.3 0.5 2.0 2.7 10.7
1988-89 32 LAL NBA 80 13 1943 3.9 9.2 .431 1.5 3.9 .381 1.5 1.7 .871 0.6 2.9 3.5 5.8 1.3 0.6 1.7 3.4 10.9
1989-90 33 LAL NBA 80 10 1851 3.7 9.6 .387 1.0 3.1 .318 1.6 1.8 .883 1.1 3.3 4.4 4.2 1.3 0.7 1.8 4.0 10.0
Career NBA 873 94 23635 4.6 9.8 .469 0.7 1.9 .340 1.9 2.3 .833 1.1 3.1 4.2 5.6 1.6 0.8 2.2 3.5 11.8

Advanced

 ▪ 
 ▪ 
Season Age Tm Lg G MP PER TS% eFG% ORB% DRB% TRB% AST% STL% BLK% TOV% USG% ORtg DRtg OWS DWS WS WS/48
1978-79 22 LAL NBA 3 7 16.3 .500 .500 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 6.5 0.0 14.3 40.0 81 99 0.0 0.0 0.0 -0.073
1979-80 23 LAL NBA 82 1973 12.5 .563 .529 6.1 6.5 6.3 13.5 2.0 1.0 18.1 15.9 108 106 2.2 1.8 4.0 .097
1980-81 24 LAL NBA 81 2625 12.2 .530 .494 5.3 8.4 6.9 15.2 2.4 1.6 18.6 13.5 106 105 2.0 3.0 5.0 .092
1981-82 25 LAL NBA 76 2197 14.3 .556 .518 4.3 8.8 6.7 12.9 2.5 1.5 15.6 17.5 109 106 2.4 2.6 5.0 .109
1982-83 26 LAL NBA 82 2148 13.5 .577 .540 4.4 9.5 7.1 16.7 2.5 1.2 18.8 12.5 114 105 3.1 2.1 5.2 .116
1983-84 27 LAL NBA 82 2387 14.1 .586 .532 2.7 9.2 6.2 23.5 2.2 1.5 19.0 13.1 118 107 3.9 2.6 6.5 .130
1984-85 28 LAL NBA 82 2189 12.9 .539 .495 3.2 9.5 6.6 22.4 2.0 1.2 19.3 14.9 110 108 2.3 2.3 4.6 .102
1985-86 29 LAL NBA 82 2269 13.5 .557 .504 2.3 9.6 6.1 24.3 1.8 1.0 18.2 14.8 114 107 3.4 2.4 5.8 .123
1986-87 30 LAL NBA 82 2253 14.0 .536 .498 3.1 9.0 6.3 20.6 1.6 1.1 11.3 16.3 117 108 3.8 2.3 6.1 .131
1987-88 31 LAL NBA 61 1793 11.6 .500 .451 3.3 10.7 7.2 20.2 1.8 0.8 16.0 14.7 107 108 1.3 1.8 3.1 .082
1988-89 32 LAL NBA 80 1943 11.9 .549 .512 2.0 8.5 5.5 20.3 1.8 0.9 14.9 13.4 115 109 2.6 1.8 4.4 .110
1989-90 33 LAL NBA 80 1851 9.6 .482 .438 3.8 10.0 7.0 15.3 1.8 1.1 14.6 14.4 104 108 0.7 2.0 2.7 .070
Career NBA 873 23635 12.8 .544 .502 3.7 9.0 6.5 18.7 2.1 1.2 16.8 14.6 111 107 27.7 24.7 52.5 .107

Playoffs

Totals Shooting Per Game
Season Age Tm Lg G MP FG FGA 3P 3PA FT FTA ORB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS FG% 3P% FT% MP PTS TRB AST
1979-80 23 LAL NBA 16 464 57 140 0 2 31 36 28 59 58 24 11 29 54 145 .407 .000 .861 29.0 9.1 3.7 3.6
1980-81 24 LAL NBA 3 102 11 20 0 3 10 14 2 10 7 6 0 7 7 32 .550 .000 .714 34.0 10.7 3.3 2.3
1981-82 25 LAL NBA 14 383 70 124 1 2 25 34 19 61 62 24 11 29 47 166 .565 .500 .735 27.4 11.9 4.4 4.4
1982-83 26 LAL NBA 15 453 53 114 1 7 34 41 12 59 44 26 6 23 54 141 .465 .143 .829 30.2 9.4 3.9 2.9
1983-84 27 LAL NBA 21 723 88 191 12 36 50 62 20 82 119 24 20 29 80 238 .461 .333 .806 34.4 11.3 3.9 5.7
1984-85 28 LAL NBA 19 501 71 126 8 26 48 52 12 76 93 21 9 36 46 198 .563 .308 .923 26.4 10.4 4.0 4.9
1985-86 29 LAL NBA 14 421 54 115 19 41 9 11 16 46 68 18 4 21 24 136 .470 .463 .818 30.1 9.7 3.3 4.9
1986-87 30 LAL NBA 18 522 77 159 34 70 46 54 8 59 90 25 14 37 46 234 .484 .486 .852 29.0 13.0 3.3 5.0
1987-88 31 LAL NBA 24 588 54 131 25 62 20 27 15 58 66 19 9 21 57 153 .412 .403 .741 24.5 6.4 2.4 2.8
1988-89 32 LAL NBA 15 414 37 89 21 55 20 24 9 40 71 9 8 17 38 115 .416 .382 .833 27.6 7.7 2.7 4.7
1989-90 33 LAL NBA 9 173 10 35 3 12 0 0 11 24 25 7 4 7 21 23 .286 .250 19.2 2.6 2.7 2.8
Career NBA 168 4744 582 1244 124 316 293 355 152 574 703 203 96 256 474 1581 .468 .392 .825 28.2 9.4 3.4 4.2

Playoffs Advanced

Season Age Tm Lg G MP PER TS% eFG% ORB% DRB% TRB% AST% STL% BLK% TOV% USG% ORtg DRtg OWS DWS WS WS/48
1979-80 23 LAL NBA 16 464 11.2 .465 .407 6.6 7.1 6.8 15.6 2.4 1.3 15.7 15.7 102 104 0.3 0.5 0.8 .080
1980-81 24 LAL NBA 3 102 11.7 .612 .550 2.1 6.8 4.7 9.6 2.9 0.0 21.1 13.7 105 105 0.1 0.1 0.2 .083
1981-82 25 LAL NBA 14 383 17.4 .597 .569 5.6 11.0 8.4 20.2 2.9 1.5 17.3 17.2 116 105 0.7 0.5 1.2 .152
1982-83 26 LAL NBA 15 453 11.4 .534 .469 3.0 11.2 7.2 12.0 2.7 0.7 14.8 14.0 107 107 0.4 0.4 0.8 .085
1983-84 27 LAL NBA 21 723 13.7 .545 .492 3.3 9.0 6.4 19.3 1.6 1.5 11.7 14.2 119 110 1.2 0.7 1.9 .126
1984-85 28 LAL NBA 19 501 15.5 .665 .595 2.9 12.8 8.3 20.5 1.9 0.9 19.5 14.3 124 108 1.0 0.6 1.7 .161
1985-86 29 LAL NBA 14 421 13.1 .567 .552 4.8 8.1 6.5 18.8 2.1 0.5 14.9 13.9 118 109 0.6 0.5 1.1 .121
1986-87 30 LAL NBA 18 522 16.7 .640 .591 1.9 9.9 6.3 22.0 2.3 1.5 16.8 17.4 123 108 1.0 0.8 1.8 .165
1987-88 31 LAL NBA 24 588 10.2 .535 .508 3.1 8.3 5.8 14.8 1.7 0.9 12.8 12.4 114 113 0.6 0.4 1.0 .081
1988-89 32 LAL NBA 15 414 12.2 .578 .534 2.7 8.0 5.6 23.1 1.1 1.1 14.6 12.2 123 113 0.7 0.3 1.0 .113
1989-90 33 LAL NBA 9 173 7.1 .329 .329 7.9 8.6 8.2 18.5 2.1 1.5 16.7 10.7 94 111 -0.1 0.1 0.1 .018
Career NBA 168 4744 13.2 .565 .518 3.8 9.4 6.8 18.2 2.0 1.1 15.5 14.4 116 109 6.5 4.9 11.4 .116

Similarity Scores

Explanation ▪ Players with careers of similar quality and shape (thru 2010-11)
Thru 12 Years Win Shares (Best to Worst)
Player Sim 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Michael Cooper 6.5 6.1 5.8 5.2 5.0 5.0 4.6 4.4 4.0 3.1 2.7 0.0
Nate McMillan 93.8 6.5 6.0 5.6 5.1 4.9 4.4 4.1 3.7 3.7 2.8 2.6 0.8
Jeff Malone 92.2 6.6 6.1 5.7 5.6 5.6 5.2 5.1 4.2 4.1 3.6 1.3 1.3
Dick McGuire 91.8 6.9 6.6 6.3 5.3 5.3 4.7 4.5 4.0 4.0 2.1 1.3
John Lucas 90.0 7.9 5.9 5.7 5.2 4.8 4.3 4.3 3.9 3.9 3.2 1.3 0.4
Vinnie Johnson 89.2 7.7 5.9 5.9 4.8 4.7 4.2 4.1 3.8 3.2 2.7 2.3 0.2
Tyrone Corbin 88.0 6.8 6.7 5.6 5.4 5.4 5.0 4.4 3.0 2.5 2.1 1.2 0.1
Antonio Daniels 86.1 6.8 6.6 5.9 5.8 5.3 4.5 4.3 3.6 2.3 1.8 1.5 -1.3
Nick Van Exel 85.4 7.2 7.1 6.4 6.4 5.7 4.9 4.4 4.0 3.4 2.2 1.6 1.2
David Wesley 85.2 7.6 7.0 6.3 6.1 6.1 5.8 5.2 4.8 2.8 2.6 2.6 0.6
Damon Stoudamire 84.8 7.6 6.7 6.6 6.1 5.9 5.7 4.7 4.3 3.6 1.7 1.6 1.1
Career Win Shares (Best to Worst)
Player Sim 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Michael Cooper 6.5 6.1 5.8 5.2 5.0 5.0 4.6 4.4 4.0 3.1 2.7 0.0
Nate McMillan 93.8 6.5 6.0 5.6 5.1 4.9 4.4 4.1 3.7 3.7 2.8 2.6 0.8
Jeff Malone 91.9 6.6 6.1 5.7 5.6 5.6 5.2 5.1 4.2 4.1 3.6 1.3 1.3 -0.2
Dick McGuire 91.8 6.9 6.6 6.3 5.3 5.3 4.7 4.5 4.0 4.0 2.1 1.3
John Lucas 88.7 7.9 5.9 5.7 5.2 4.8 4.3 4.3 3.9 3.9 3.2 1.9 1.3 1.0 0.4
Vinnie Johnson 88.0 7.7 5.9 5.9 4.8 4.7 4.2 4.1 3.8 3.2 2.7 2.3 1.2 0.2
Tyrone Corbin 87.7 6.8 6.7 5.6 5.5 5.4 5.4 5.0 4.4 3.0 2.5 2.2 2.1 1.2 0.9 0.1 -0.3
Antonio Daniels 86.2 6.8 6.6 5.9 5.8 5.3 4.5 4.3 3.6 2.3 1.8 1.5 0.0 -1.3
Derek Fisher 85.4 6.3 5.8 5.7 5.5 5.2 3.9 3.9 3.8 3.7 3.7 3.1 2.4 1.8 1.7 1.1
Damon Stoudamire 84.7 7.6 6.7 6.6 6.1 5.9 5.7 4.7 4.3 3.6 1.7 1.6 1.1 -0.1
Nick Van Exel 84.2 7.2 7.1 6.4 6.4 5.7 4.9 4.4 4.0 3.4 2.2 1.6 1.4 1.2

College

Light text indicates college freshman or JV participant
Totals Shooting Per Game
Season Age College G MP FG FGA 3P 3PA FT FTA ORB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS FG% 3P% FT% MP PTS TRB AST
1976-77 20 NMEXICO 30 957 171 333 112 140 150 454 .514 .800 31.9 15.1 5.0
1977-78 21 NMEXICO 28 830 189 387 73 111 158 451 .488 .658 29.6 16.1 5.6
Career 58 1787 360 720 185 251 308 905 .500 .737 30.8 15.6 5.3

Appearances on Leaderboards, Awards, and Honors

Awards
1986-87 NBA Defensive Player of the Year
Honors
1980-81 NBA All-Defensive (2nd)
1981-82 NBA All-Defensive (1st)
1982-83 NBA All-Defensive (2nd)
1983-84 NBA All-Defensive (1st)
1984-85 NBA All-Defensive (1st)
1985-86 NBA All-Defensive (2nd)
1986-87 NBA All-Defensive (1st)
1987-88 NBA All-Defensive (1st)
MVP Award Shares
1980-81 NBA 0.004 (24)
1981-82 NBA 0.004 (17)
Career 0.009 (163)
Championships
(Minimum 1 playoff game)
1980 Los Angeles Lakers (NBA)
1982 Los Angeles Lakers (NBA)
1985 Los Angeles Lakers (NBA)
1987 Los Angeles Lakers (NBA)
1988 Los Angeles Lakers (NBA)
Games
1979-80 NBA 82 (2)
1982-83 NBA 82 (2)
1983-84 NBA 82 (1)
1984-85 NBA 82 (1)
1985-86 NBA 82 (2)
1986-87 NBA 82 (1)
3-Pt Field Goals
1983-84 NBA 38 (2)
1985-86 NBA 63 (4)
1986-87 NBA 89 (2)
3-Pt Field Goal Attempts
1983-84 NBA 121 (2)
1984-85 NBA 123 (10)
1985-86 NBA 163 (5)
1986-87 NBA 231 (2)
1987-88 NBA 178 (7)
3-Pt Field Goal Pct
1983-84 NBA .314 (4)
1985-86 NBA .387 (7)
1986-87 NBA .385 (8)
Free Throw Pct
Career NBA .833 (87)
Career .833 (96)
Hall of Fame Probability
Career 0.036 (218)
NBA Elo Player Rating
214th (overall) as of Feb 11, 2012, 6:45AM
 

Transactions

June 9, 1978: Drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 3rd round (60th pick) of the 1978 NBA Draft.

August 15, 1990: Waived by the Los Angeles Lakers.

Salaries

Season Team Lg Salary
1985-86 Los Angeles Lakers NBA $366,000
1987-88 Los Angeles Lakers NBA $676,500
Career (may be incomplete) $1,042,500

Links

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