Michael Cooper has been elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, class of 2024.
Cooper was named to eight NBA All-Defensive Teams, taking home First-Team accolades five times and winning Defensive Player of the Year honors in 1987. The former third-round draft pick (60th overall) out of the University of New Mexico spent his entire 12-year NBA career (1978-90) with the Los Angeles Lakers, winning five championships while routinely matching up with the opponent’s top shooter.
The 6-foot-5 forward largely played as a sixth man and in addition to his defense was known for his knee-high socks and being on the receiving end of alley-oops from Magic Johnson. The Pasadena native played in more than 80 games in nine of his 12 seasons.
Following his playing career, Cooper entered the coaching ranks and earned WNBA Coach of the Year accolades in 2000 with the Los Angeles Sparks before winning back-to-back WNBA titles in 2001-02.
Career
- Five-time NBA champion (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987-1988)
- NBA Defensive Player of the Year (1986-87)
- Five-time NBA All-Defensive First Team (1982, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988)
- Three-time NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1981,1983, 1986)