“ Coop! » Magic Johnson, Lisa Leslie, Pat Riley and part of the audience welcomed Michael Cooper on stage. Alongside Vince Carter and Chauncey Billups, the former Lakers figure from the 1980s has entered the ranks of the greatest in his sport.
In his speech, the Los Angeles native dwells on a journey that makes him “ unique » compared to others. “ I accomplished something even Michael Jordan couldn't do », he said firmly, generating a slight moment of hesitation in the room. “ Everyone knows he was cut from his high school team, I was cut twice », continues Michael Cooper, provoking collective hilarity.
In the mid-1970s, he still managed to do well enough to get a place in Pasadena (California), before joining the University of New Mexico.
“ My high school coach taught me that being a good defender keeps you on the field. 'If you shoot and it doesn't fit, come sit down. You're not defending anyone anyway.' So it’s always been important for me to be a good defender. As I grew up and went through the stages of high school and college, I learned how to shoot. But defense was my priority “, he reminds.
Lakers focused on defense thanks to him
The Lakers therefore bet on him, during a modest third round in the 1978 Draft, to inject this spirit in addition to their giant, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Which he will do brilliantly. Encouraged in this direction by Pat Riley who became an assistant at the club during his second season, Michael Cooper played a key role on this side of the field for the Californians. “ Not only was he the best defender, but he made sure we were all focused on defense », recalls Magic.
As for Pat Riley, he speaks outright about “ GOAT (best ever) outside defenders “. His record is quite eloquent: best defender in the league in 1987 and no less than eight mentions among the best five.
Which will not prevent him from shining in the “Showtime” era of the Lakers. His athleticism allowed him to regularly fly towards the circle, whether after an interception on the counterattack or upon receiving an “alley-oop” sent by Magic Johnson.
In 873 regular season games, he only reached or exceeded the symbolic 20-point mark 20 times. And in 12 seasons, all with the Lakers, he only averaged 9 points. Among Hall of Famers, only Ben Wallace (5.7) and Dennis Rodman (7.3) finished with a career scoring average lower than his since the 1976 merger with the ABA.
But beyond the fact that the Hall of Fame is not reserved for great strikers, “Coop” had one last weighty argument to make: his five NBA titles (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987 and 1988).
| Michael Cooper | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 1978-79 | LAL | 3 | 2 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 2.0 | |
| 1979-80 | LAL | 82 | 24 | 52.4 | 25.0 | 77.6 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 2.8 | 2.7 | 2.6 | 1.1 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 8.8 |
| 1980-81 | LAL | 81 | 32 | 49.1 | 21.1 | 78.5 | 1.5 | 2.7 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 3.1 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 9.4 |
| 1981-82 | LAL | 76 | 29 | 51.7 | 11.8 | 81.3 | 1.1 | 2.4 | 3.5 | 3.0 | 2.8 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 11.9 |
| 1982-83 | LAL | 82 | 26 | 53.5 | 23.8 | 78.5 | 1.0 | 2.3 | 3.3 | 3.8 | 2.5 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 7.8 |
| 1983-84 | LAL | 82 | 29 | 49.7 | 31.4 | 83.8 | 0.7 | 2.6 | 3.2 | 5.9 | 3.3 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 9.0 |
| 1984-85 | LAL | 82 | 27 | 46.5 | 28.5 | 86.5 | 0.7 | 2.4 | 3.1 | 5.2 | 2.5 | 1.1 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 8.6 |
| 1985-86 | LAL | 82 | 28 | 45.2 | 38.7 | 86.5 | 0.5 | 2.4 | 3.0 | 5.7 | 2.9 | 1.1 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 9.2 |
| 1986-87 | LAL | 82 | 28 | 43.8 | 38.5 | 85.7 | 0.7 | 2.4 | 3.1 | 4.6 | 2.4 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 10.5 |
| 1987-88 | LAL | 61 | 29 | 39.2 | 32.0 | 85.8 | 0.8 | 2.9 | 3.7 | 4.7 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 8.7 |
| 1988-89 | LAL | 80 | 24 | 43.1 | 38.1 | 87.1 | 0.4 | 2.0 | 2.4 | 3.9 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 7.3 |
| 1989-90 | LAL | 80 | 23 | 38.7 | 31.8 | 88.3 | 0.7 | 2.1 | 2.8 | 2.7 | 2.6 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 6.4 |
| Total | 873 | 27 | 46.9 | 34.0 | 83.3 | 0.9 | 2.3 | 3.2 | 4.2 | 2.7 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 8.9 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
