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), also known as "Coop", is an American basketball coach and former player. He played his entire National Basketball Association (NBA) career with the Los Angeles Lakers. He helped the Lakers win five NBA championships during their famous "Showtime" era.
Cooper was known for his amazing defense. He was chosen for the NBA All-Defensive Team eight times, and was named NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 1987. In 2024, Cooper was honored by being inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The Lakers retired his jersey number 21 in 2025, meaning no other player on the team can wear that number.
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 at various levels, including the NBA, WNBA, and college.
Contents
- Early Life and High School Basketball
- College Basketball Career
- Professional Basketball Career
- Coaching Career
- Starting with the Lakers (1994–1997)
- Leading the Los Angeles Sparks (1999–2004)
- Coaching the Denver Nuggets (2004–2005)
- Winning a D-League Title (2005–2007)
- Return to the Sparks (2007–2009)
- Coaching College Women's Basketball (2009–2013)
- Coaching the Atlanta Dream (2014–2017)
- High School and College Assistant Coaching (2019–Present)
- Personal Life
- Images for kids
- See also
Early Life and High School Basketball
Michael Jerome Cooper was born in Los Angeles, California, on April 15, 1956. When he was very young, he had a serious knee injury that doctors thought might stop him from walking normally. But Cooper overcame this challenge. He went to Pasadena High School, where he was a star player in basketball. He finished high school in 1974.
College Basketball Career
Cooper started his college basketball journey at Pasadena City College. Later, he transferred to the University of New Mexico. He played for the New Mexico Lobos for two seasons, from 1976 to 1978. During this time, he was recognized as a top player in the Western Athletic Conference.
In his final year at New Mexico, Cooper was named a first-team All-American. The Lobos won the WAC title that year. Cooper averaged 16.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game, showing his all-around skills.
Professional Basketball Career
Playing for the Los Angeles Lakers (1978–1990)
The Los Angeles Lakers picked Michael Cooper in the third round of the 1978 NBA draft. He was the 60th player chosen overall. Cooper quickly became a key part of the Lakers' "Showtime" teams in the 1980s. He was especially known for his amazing defensive skills.
During his twelve years in the NBA, all with the Lakers, Cooper was selected for the NBA All Defensive Team eight times. Five of those times, he was on the first team, meaning he was considered one of the best defenders in the league. In 1987, he won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award. He helped the Lakers win five NBA championships in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, and 1988. He played alongside famous players like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson.
Cooper was 6 feet 7 inches tall and weighed about 174 pounds. He often wore knee-high socks. He could play different positions like shooting guard, small forward, and point guard. His main job was usually to guard the other team's best shooter. Even Larry Bird, one of the greatest players ever, said Cooper was the toughest defender he faced.
Throughout his career, Cooper averaged 8.9 points, 4.2 assists, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game. Lakers fans loved him and would often chant "Coooooooop" when he had the ball. The team even had a special play called the "Coop-a-loop" for him.
Playing in Italy (1990–1991)
After leaving the Lakers in 1990, Cooper played one season in Italy for Pallacanestro Virtus Roma. He averaged 15.8 points and 6.1 rebounds per game there.
Coaching Career
Starting with the Lakers (1994–1997)
After his playing days, Michael Cooper worked as a special assistant for the Lakers' general manager, Jerry West. He then joined the Lakers' coaching staff in 1994.
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 team quickly improved, finishing 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 tried for a third championship in 2003 but lost to the Detroit Shock.
Coaching the Denver Nuggets (2004–2005)
After leaving the Sparks in 2004, Cooper became an assistant coach for the Denver Nuggets in the NBA. He later served as the Nuggets' interim head coach for a short time.
Winning a D-League Title (2005–2007)
Cooper then coached the Albuquerque Thunderbirds for three years. In 2006, he led them to win the National Basketball Association D-League Championship.
Return to the Sparks (2007–2009)
After his success with the Thunderbirds, Cooper returned to coach the Los Angeles Sparks in the WNBA.
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 them until 2013.
Coaching the Atlanta Dream (2014–2017)
In 2013, Cooper was hired as the head coach for the Atlanta Dream in the WNBA. He coached them until 2017.
High School and College Assistant Coaching (2019–Present)
From 2019 to 2021, Cooper coached the boys' varsity basketball team at Chadwick School. He then became the head coach at Culver City High School from 2021 to 2023. In 2023, he took on an assistant coaching role for the men's basketball team at Cal State L.A..
Personal Life
In July 2014, Michael Cooper was diagnosed with early-stage tongue cancer. He had surgery and was able to recover well.
Images for kids
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Cooper at Camp Lemonnier in 2023
See also
In Spanish: Michael Cooper para niños
