Michael Cooper facts for kids
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Cooper at Camp Lemonnier in 2023
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 15, 1956 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| High school | Pasadena (Pasadena, California) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
| Listed weight | 170 lb (77 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College |
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| NBA Draft | 1978 / Round: 3 / Pick: 60th overall |
| Selected by the Los Angeles Lakers | |
| Pro career | 1978–1991 |
| Coaching career | 1994–present |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1978–1990 | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1990–1991 | Virtus Roma |
| As coach: | |
| 1994–1996 | Los Angeles Lakers (assistant) |
| 1999 | Los Angeles Sparks (assistant) |
| 2000–2004 | Los Angeles Sparks |
| 2004 | Denver Nuggets (assistant) |
| 2004–2005 | Denver Nuggets (interim) |
| 2005–2007 | Albuquerque Thunderbirds |
| 2007–2009 | Los Angeles Sparks |
| 2009–2013 | USC (women) |
| 2014–2017 | Atlanta Dream |
| 2019–2021 | Chadwick School |
| 2021–2023 | Culver City High School |
| 2023 | Cal State L.A. (assistant) |
| Career highlights and awards | |
As player:
As coach:
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| Career statistics | |
| Points | 7,729 (8.9 ppg) |
| Assists | 3,666 (4.2 apg) |
| Steals | 1,033 (1.2 spg) |
Michael Jerome Cooper (born April 15, 1956) is an American basketball coach and former player. He played his entire career in the National Basketball Association for the Los Angeles Lakers. He helped the Lakers win five NBA championships during their "Showtime" era. This was a time when the Lakers played a fast and exciting style of basketball.
Michael Cooper was known for his amazing defense. He was chosen for the NBA All-Defensive Team eight times. He was even named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 1987. In 2024, it was announced that he would join the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. After this, the Lakers decided to retire his No. 21 jersey on January 13, 2025.
After his playing career, Cooper became a successful coach. He led the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) to two championships. He also guided the Albuquerque Thunderbirds to an NBA G League title. He has coached in many different leagues, including the NBA and WNBA. From 2021 to 2023, he was the head coach for boys' basketball at Culver City High School in California. Later, he became an assistant coach for men's basketball at California State University, Los Angeles.
Contents
- Early Life and School Years
- College Basketball Journey
- Professional Basketball Career
- Coaching Career
- Assistant Coach for the Lakers (1994–1997)
- Leading the Los Angeles Sparks (1999–2004)
- Time with the Denver Nuggets (2004–2005)
- Coaching the Albuquerque Thunderbirds (2005–2007)
- Return to the Sparks (2007–2009)
- Coaching College Women's Basketball (2009–2013)
- Atlanta Dream (2014–2017)
- High School and College Assistant Coach (2019–Present)
- Personal Life
- See also
Early Life and School Years
Michael Jerome Cooper was born on April 15, 1956, in Los Angeles, California. When he was three years old, he had a serious knee injury. Doctors thought he might never walk properly again. But he recovered and went on to play basketball.
He attended Pasadena High School. There, he was a star player in basketball. He finished high school in 1974.
College Basketball Journey
After high school, Cooper went to Pasadena City College. He then moved to the University of New Mexico. He played for the New Mexico Lobos for two seasons, from 1976 to 1978. He was named one of the best players in the Western Athletic Conference.
In his last year of college, 1978, he was chosen as a first-team All-American. This means he was one of the top college players in the country. The Lobos won their conference title that year. Cooper averaged 16.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game.
Professional Basketball Career
Playing for the Los Angeles Lakers (1978–1990)
The Los Angeles Lakers picked Michael Cooper in the 1978 NBA draft. He was the 60th player chosen overall. Cooper became a very important part of the Lakers' "Showtime" teams in the 1980s. He was known for his amazing defensive skills.
During his twelve-year career, he was named to the NBA All Defensive Team eight times. Five of those times, he was on the first team. He won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award in 1987. Cooper, along with stars like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson, helped the Lakers win five NBA championships. These wins happened in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, and 1988.
Cooper was 6 feet 7 inches tall and weighed about 174 pounds. He often played shooting guard, small forward, or point guard. His main job was usually to guard the other team's best shooter. Larry Bird, a famous player, once said Cooper was the best defender he ever faced.
Lakers fans loved Cooper. They would often chant "Coooooooop" when he had the ball. The team even had a special play called the "Coop-a-loop" for him. He left the Lakers after the 1989–90 season. He was among the club's top 10 players in many stats, like three-pointers, games played, and steals.
Playing in Italy (1990–1991)
After leaving the Lakers, Cooper played one season in Italy. He played for Pallacanestro Virtus Roma in the Italian Serie A league. He averaged 15.8 points and 6.1 rebounds per game there.
Coaching Career
Assistant Coach for the Lakers (1994–1997)
After he stopped playing, Cooper worked for the Lakers' general manager, Jerry West. Then, he joined the Lakers' coaching staff in 1994. He worked under Magic Johnson and later Del Harris.
Leading the Los Angeles Sparks (1999–2004)
In 1999, Cooper became an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Sparks in the WNBA. He helped the team reach the playoffs for the first time. In November 1999, he became the Sparks' head coach.
The Sparks quickly became a top team. They finished with a great record of 28 wins and 4 losses in 2000. Cooper was named the WNBA Coach of the Year for his excellent work. The Sparks then won two WNBA Championships in a row, in 2001 and 2002. They almost won a third in 2003 but lost in the finals.
Time with the Denver Nuggets (2004–2005)
After leaving the Sparks, Cooper became an assistant coach for the Denver Nuggets in the NBA. He later became the Nuggets' interim head coach for a short time.
Coaching the Albuquerque Thunderbirds (2005–2007)
Cooper then coached the Albuquerque Thunderbirds for three years. He led them to win the NBA D-League Championship in 2006.
Return to the Sparks (2007–2009)
After coaching the Thunderbirds, Cooper returned to the WNBA. He became the head coach of the Los Angeles Sparks again.
Coaching College Women's Basketball (2009–2013)
In 2009, Cooper became the head coach for the University of Southern California's Women of Troy Basketball Team. He coached there until 2013.
Atlanta Dream (2014–2017)
In 2013, Cooper was hired as the head coach for the Atlanta Dream WNBA team. He coached them until 2017.
High School and College Assistant Coach (2019–Present)
In 2019, Cooper became the boys' varsity coach at Chadwick School in Los Angeles County. In 2021, he moved to Culver City High School as head coach. Since 2023, he has been an assistant coach for men's basketball at Cal State, LA.
Personal Life
In July 2014, Michael Cooper was diagnosed with early-stage tongue cancer. He had surgery and was able to recover well.
See also
In Spanish: Michael Cooper para niños
- List of NBA players who have spent their entire career with one franchise
