Michael Cooper vs. Mel Payton Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Mel Payton and Michael Cooper that includes championships won, honors and awards obtained, regular season and playoffs stats and other data put side by side.

Who scored more points in his career? Who averaged more points in playoffs? Who won more championships? Who led the season more times? Who won more MVP awards? These questions and many more, are answered here. It includes NBA Championships, seasons, playoffs, awards, statistical data for points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and percentages.

Head-To-Head Career Comparison

Michael Cooper

vs.

Mel Payton

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Michael Cooper: 1978-79 to 1989-90
Mel Payton: 1951-52 to 1952-53

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Michael Cooper 5 Mel Payton 0

NBA Seasons Michael Cooper 12 Mel Payton 2

Playoffs Played Michael Cooper 11 Mel Payton 2

All-Star Games Michael Cooper 0 Mel Payton 0

Honors and Awards

All-Defensive 1st Team Michael Cooper 5 Mel Payton 0 *

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) Michael Cooper 8 Mel Payton 0

Defensive Player of The Year Michael Cooper 1 * Mel Payton 0 *

* Notes: Finals MVP and Defensive Teams awarded since 1968-69. Defensive Player of The Year is awarded since 1982-83.

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Michael Cooper 8.9 Mel Payton 5.4

Rebounds Per Game Michael Cooper 3.2 Mel Payton 3.6

Assists Per Game Michael Cooper 4.2 Mel Payton 1.1

Steals Per Game Michael Cooper 1.2 Mel Payton - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Michael Cooper 0.6 Mel Payton - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Michael Cooper 7,729 Mel Payton 595

Total Rebounds Michael Cooper 2,769 Mel Payton 396

Total Assists Michael Cooper 3,666 Mel Payton 126

Total Steals Michael Cooper 1,033 Mel Payton - n/a **

Total Blocks Michael Cooper 523 Mel Payton - n/a **

Total Games Michael Cooper 873 Mel Payton 111

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Michael Cooper .469 Mel Payton .363

3-Point Percentage Michael Cooper .340 * Mel Payton - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Michael Cooper .833 Mel Payton .746

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Michael Cooper 11.9 (1982) Mel Payton 7.1 (1953)

Rebounds Per Game Michael Cooper 4.1 (1981) Mel Payton 4.7 (1953)

Assists Per Game Michael Cooper 5.9 (1984) Mel Payton 1.2 (1953)

Steals Per Game Michael Cooper 1.6 (1981) Mel Payton - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Michael Cooper 1.0 (1981) Mel Payton - n/a **

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Michael Cooper 9.4 Mel Payton 5.0

Rebounds Per Game Michael Cooper 3.4 Mel Payton 1.8

Assists Per Game Michael Cooper 4.2 Mel Payton 0.2

Steals Per Game Michael Cooper 1.2 Mel Payton - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Michael Cooper 0.6 Mel Payton - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Michael Cooper 1,581 Mel Payton 25

Total Rebounds Michael Cooper 574 Mel Payton 9

Total Assists Michael Cooper 703 Mel Payton 1

Total Steals Michael Cooper 203 Mel Payton - n/a **

Total Blocks Michael Cooper 96 Mel Payton - n/a **

Total Games Michael Cooper 168 Mel Payton 5

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Michael Cooper .468 Mel Payton .421

3-Point Percentage Michael Cooper .392 * Mel Payton - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Michael Cooper .825 Mel Payton .900

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Michael Cooper 13.0 (1987) Mel Payton 10.5 (1953)

Rebounds Per Game Michael Cooper 4.4 (1982) Mel Payton 3.0 (1953)

Assists Per Game Michael Cooper 5.7 (1984) Mel Payton 0.3 (1952)

Steals Per Game Michael Cooper 2.0 (1981) Mel Payton - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Michael Cooper 1.0 (1984) Mel Payton - n/a **

Notes: * Three-point shots were implemented in 1979-80. Some years in this player's career don't have stats. ** Blocks and steals started to be recorded in 1973-74, this player has no data for the stat. Three-point shots were implemented in 1979-80, this player has no data for the stat.