Wayne Cooper (basketball) facts for kids

Artis Wayne Cooper (born November 16, 1956 – died April 11, 2022) was an American professional basketball player. He played for fourteen seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "Coop", he was known for his strong defense and shot-blocking skills.

Wayne played for several teams, including the Golden State Warriors, Utah Jazz, Dallas Mavericks, Portland Trail Blazers, and Denver Nuggets. After his playing career, he worked as a team executive.

Early Life and College Basketball

Wayne Cooper was born in Milan, Georgia. He went to Telfair County High School in his hometown. After high school, he attended the University of New Orleans (UNO). A coach there saw him as a "tall, skinny kid who could really shoot."

Playing for the New Orleans Privateers

Wayne played college basketball for the New Orleans Privateers from 1974 to 1978. In his second year, he scored about 12 points and grabbed 9 rebounds per game. He got even better in his third year, scoring 13 points and getting 10 rebounds per game.

During his final year (1977–78), Wayne was a star player. He scored 18 points and got almost 13 rebounds per game. The Privateers won the Sun Belt tournament championship that year. Wayne set school records for getting double-digit rebounds in 13 games in a row. He also had 11 straight games with a double-double (scoring double digits in two different stats).

Wayne was named the Sun Belt Player of the Year in his senior year. He was chosen by the Golden State Warriors in the second round of the 1978 NBA draft.

NBA Career Highlights

Wayne Cooper started his NBA journey on October 14, 1978. He played 65 games in his first season. He then improved his scoring in his second year.

Moving Between Teams

Wayne was traded to the Utah Jazz in 1980. Less than a year later, he was traded again to the Dallas Mavericks. In 1982, he was traded for a third time to the Portland Trail Blazers.

Success with the Trail Blazers and Nuggets

In the 1983 NBA playoffs, Wayne played a big part for the Trail Blazers. They swept the Seattle SuperSonics in the first round. Wayne averaged 12 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game in that series.

He was later traded to the Denver Nuggets in 1984. In his first year with the Nuggets, Wayne was one of the best shot-blockers in the NBA. He had the second-highest block percentage in the league. He also had the fourth-most blocks overall.

Best Seasons and Records

The 1985–86 season was one of Wayne's best. He started 78 games for the Nuggets. He averaged 13.1 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks per game. He finished third in the league in block percentage that year.

On December 11, 1985, he blocked 9 shots in one game. This was a career high at the time. Later, on December 30, 1988, he blocked an amazing 10 shots in a single game!

Wayne returned to the Portland Trail Blazers in 1989. He played in the 1990 NBA Finals and 1992 NBA Finals with the Trail Blazers. Throughout his NBA career, Wayne played in 984 games. He scored a total of 7,777 points.

Life After Playing Basketball

After he stopped playing basketball in 1992, Wayne Cooper stayed with the Trail Blazers. He worked in their front office for two years.

In 1994, he became an assistant coach and director for the Sacramento Kings. Two years later, he was promoted to vice president of basketball operations. He held this important role until 2013.

Awards and Recognition

Wayne was honored many times for his basketball achievements:

• In 1988, he was part of the first group inducted into the University of New Orleans Hall of Fame.
• In 1992, he was added to the Louisiana Association of Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame.
• In 1995, he was named to the Sun Belt Conference's All-Time Men's Basketball Team.
• In 2000, he was inducted into the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation Hall of Fame.

At the time of his death, Wayne was ranked second all-time at UNO in double-doubles. He was also third in career rebounds and fifteenth in career points.

Personal Life

Wayne Cooper was married to Denise. They had three daughters together.

Wayne Cooper passed away on April 11, 2022, at the age of 65. He had been suffering from kidney disease.

See also

In Spanish: Wayne Cooper para niños

• List of National Basketball Association career blocks leaders