Los Angeles Lakers: Top 30 greatest players of all-time
By Ben Beecken
Los Angeles Lakers. Michael Cooper. 15. player. 20. . Shooting Guard
- 12 seasons with Lakers (1978-1990)
- Averaged 8.9 points and 4.2 assists per game
- 5x NBA champion with Lakers
While the likes of Derek Fisher bridged the Kobe-Shaq and Kobe-Pau title teams, Michael Cooper was in L.A. for the entirety of Magic Johnson’s reign.
Cooper was a third-round pick in 1978 (nope, that round doesn’t exist anymore) and only appeared in three games a rookie. But the next season was Magic’s rookie year, and the Lakers won the championship with Cooper appearing in all 82 regular season games, averaging 8.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game.
Outside of his rookie year, Cooper only appeared in less than 80 games twice in 11 seasons. He wasn’t exactly a high-usage player, only averaging double-digits in points twice in his career, but typically hovering around the neighborhood of eight-to-nine points per game. Cooper’s per-game numbers in the playoffs were similar to his regular season numbers, coming in at 9.4 points, 4.2 assists and 3.4 rebounds.
Coop’s calling card was defense; Larry Bird even called Cooper the toughest defender he ever faced. High praise, to be sure. And while Cooper never made an All-Star team — defense and only eight or nine points per game isn’t often sexy, of course — he was a vital part to the Lakers’ 1980s squad that brought five Larry O’Brien trophies back to the Great Western Forum.
It remains rare, of course, for a player to remain with a team for as long as Cooper did; the entirety of his 12-year NBA career was spent with the Lakers.