The announcement of the 2024 vintage for the Hall of Fame will be official this Saturday evening, for the opening of the Final Four of “March Madness”, but we already know that Vince Carter and Chauncey Billups will make their entry, as well as Jerry West, for the third time. But also Michael Cooper, unhappy finalist in 2021.
And this time, it wasn't a journalist or the player who spilled the beans, but Cooper's former Lakers teammates. Magic Johnson actually congratulated him with a long tweet.
“I don’t even know where to start! I tried to hold on until Saturday but I can't hold back any longer.”Magic wrote on Thursday. “I'm so excited that my Showtime costar and one of my best friends, Michael Cooper, is elected to the Hall of Fame! »
“The Minister of Defense”
“Congratulations to Defense Minister Michael Cooper on his 2024 entry into the Hall of Fame. It’s more than deserved! »for his part wrote James Worthy.
Michael Cooper's career includes 873 matches played, all in Los Angeles with the Lakers, for modest averages (8.9 points and 4.2 assists on average) but a long track record: five NBA championship titles (1980, 1982, 1985). , 1987, 1988), a trophy for best defender of the year in 1987 and eight All-Defensive Teams.
“Physically and mentally, he was tough. I can't forget our alley-oops too”, continues Magic Johnson. “He was the best defender I saw in the NBA and I know it because I faced him every day in training! »
| 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.
