Michael Cooper vs. Armen Gilliam Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Armen Gilliam and Michael Cooper, from their rookie seasons to their last year played, in chronological order with awards, stats, championships and playoff performance of their teams every year.

Player comparisons:
Career comparison / Season by season / Games against each other

Who had the better rookie season? Who had best stats in their 10th season? Who won a championship first? These questions and many others, are answered here.

Michael Cooper played 12 years in the NBA, 1 less than Armen Gilliam, who played 13. Michael Cooper had the first of his seasons in 1978-79, while Armen Gilliam had his rookie season in 1987-88. With that starting point, here you can take a look at each of their seasons side by side and compare how their careers evolved in achivements, awards and championships won, the stats they recorded both in the Regular Season and the Playoffs and how their teams performed in the postseason.

Their Careers

Player
Total Seasons Playoffs Played NBA Years
Michael Cooper 12 11 1978-79 to 1989-90
Armen Gilliam 13 5 1987-88 to 1999-00

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13

Rookie Season

Michael Cooper Armen Gilliam
Season 1978-791987-88
Team Los Angeles LakersPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper 3 2.3 2.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.3 0.3 1.0 2.0 .500 - - - 0.0 0.0 -
Armen Gilliam 55 32.9 14.8 2.4 5.5 7.9 1.3 1.1 0.5 2.2 2.6 6.2 13.1 .475 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 3.5 .679
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Armen Gilliam ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Michael Cooper Armen Gilliam
Season 1979-801988-89
Team Los Angeles LakersPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSuns Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper 82 24.1 8.8 1.2 1.6 2.8 2.7 1.0 0.5 1.7 2.6 3.7 7.0 .524 0.1 0.2 .250 1.4 1.7 .776
Armen Gilliam 74 28.6 15.9 2.2 5.1 7.3 0.7 0.7 0.4 1.9 2.4 6.3 12.6 .503 0.0 0.0 - 3.2 4.4 .743
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper 16 29.0 9.1 1.8 1.9 3.7 3.6 1.5 0.7 1.8 3.4 3.6 8.8 .407 0.0 0.1 .000 1.9 2.3 .861
Armen Gilliam 9 14.0 8.1 2.0 3.0 5.0 0.2 0.1 0.2 1.1 1.2 3.0 5.7 .529 0.0 0.0 - 2.1 2.4 .864

Season 3

Michael Cooper Armen Gilliam
Season 1980-811989-90
Team Los Angeles LakersPhoenix Suns, Charlotte Hornets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper 81 32.4 9.4 1.5 2.7 4.1 4.1 1.6 1.0 2.0 3.1 4.0 8.1 .491 0.0 0.2 .211 1.4 1.8 .785
Armen Gilliam 76 31.9 16.7 2.8 5.1 7.9 1.3 0.9 0.7 2.4 2.8 6.4 12.4 .515 0.0 0.0 .000 4.0 5.5 .723
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper 3 34.0 10.7 0.7 2.7 3.3 2.3 2.0 0.0 2.3 2.3 3.7 6.7 .550 0.0 1.0 .000 3.3 4.7 .714
Armen Gilliam ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Michael Cooper Armen Gilliam
Season 1981-821990-91
Team Los Angeles LakersCharlotte Hornets, Philadelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion76ers Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper 76 28.9 11.9 1.1 2.4 3.5 3.0 1.6 0.8 2.0 2.8 5.0 9.8 .517 0.0 0.2 .118 1.8 2.3 .813
Armen Gilliam 75 35.3 16.6 2.9 5.0 8.0 1.4 0.9 0.7 2.3 2.5 6.5 13.3 .487 0.0 0.0 .000 3.6 4.4 .815
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper 14 27.4 11.9 1.4 3.0 4.4 4.4 1.7 0.8 2.1 3.4 5.0 8.9 .565 0.1 0.1 .500 1.8 2.4 .735
Armen Gilliam 8 35.9 16.9 1.8 4.8 6.5 1.3 0.6 0.8 1.9 2.0 6.0 13.0 .462 0.0 0.0 - 4.9 5.8 .848

Season 5

Michael Cooper Armen Gilliam
Season 1982-831991-92
Team Los Angeles LakersPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper 82 26.2 7.8 1.0 2.3 3.3 3.8 1.4 0.6 1.6 2.5 3.2 6.1 .535 0.1 0.3 .238 1.2 1.6 .785
Armen Gilliam 81 34.2 16.9 2.9 5.3 8.1 1.5 0.6 1.0 2.0 2.2 6.3 12.4 .511 0.0 0.0 .000 4.2 5.2 .807
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper 15 30.2 9.4 0.8 3.1 3.9 2.9 1.7 0.4 1.3 3.6 3.5 7.6 .465 0.1 0.5 .143 2.3 2.7 .829
Armen Gilliam ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Michael Cooper Armen Gilliam
Season 1983-841992-93
Team Los Angeles LakersPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper 82 29.1 9.0 0.6 2.5 3.2 5.9 1.4 0.8 1.8 3.3 3.3 6.7 .497 0.5 1.5 .314 1.9 2.3 .838
Armen Gilliam 80 21.8 12.4 1.7 4.2 5.9 1.5 0.5 0.7 2.0 1.5 4.5 9.7 .464 0.0 0.0 .000 3.4 4.1 .843
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper 21 34.4 11.3 1.0 3.0 3.9 5.7 1.1 1.0 1.4 3.8 4.2 9.1 .461 0.6 1.7 .333 2.4 3.0 .806
Armen Gilliam ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Michael Cooper Armen Gilliam
Season 1984-851993-94
Team Los Angeles LakersNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNets Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper 82 26.7 8.6 0.7 2.4 3.1 5.2 1.1 0.6 1.9 2.5 3.4 7.2 .465 0.4 1.5 .285 1.4 1.6 .865
Armen Gilliam 82 24.0 11.8 2.4 3.7 6.1 0.8 0.5 0.7 1.3 1.6 4.2 8.3 .510 0.0 0.0 .000 3.3 4.4 .759
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper 19 26.4 10.4 0.6 3.4 4.0 4.9 1.1 0.5 1.9 2.4 3.7 6.6 .563 0.4 1.4 .308 2.5 2.7 .923
Armen Gilliam 4 28.0 10.5 0.3 6.0 6.3 0.3 0.5 1.8 0.8 1.8 3.8 8.5 .441 0.0 0.3 .000 3.0 4.0 .750

Season 8

Michael Cooper Armen Gilliam
Season 1985-861994-95
Team Los Angeles LakersNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper 82 27.7 9.2 0.5 2.4 3.0 5.7 1.1 0.5 1.8 2.9 3.3 7.4 .452 0.8 2.0 .387 1.8 2.1 .865
Armen Gilliam 82 30.1 14.8 2.3 5.1 7.5 1.2 0.8 1.1 1.9 2.1 5.5 11.0 .503 0.0 0.0 .000 3.7 4.8 .770
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper 14 30.1 9.7 1.1 2.1 3.3 4.9 1.3 0.3 1.5 1.7 3.9 8.2 .470 1.4 2.9 .463 0.6 0.8 .818
Armen Gilliam ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Michael Cooper Armen Gilliam
Season 1986-871995-96
Team Los Angeles LakersNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper 82 27.5 10.5 0.7 2.4 3.1 4.5 1.0 0.5 1.2 2.4 3.9 9.0 .438 1.1 2.8 .385 1.5 1.8 .851
Armen Gilliam 78 36.6 18.3 3.1 6.1 9.1 1.8 0.9 0.7 2.3 2.3 7.4 15.6 .474 0.0 0.0 .000 3.6 4.5 .791
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper 18 29.0 13.0 0.4 2.8 3.3 5.0 1.4 0.8 2.1 2.6 4.3 8.8 .484 1.9 3.9 .486 2.6 3.0 .852
Armen Gilliam ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Michael Cooper Armen Gilliam
Season 1987-881996-97
Team Los Angeles LakersMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper 61 29.4 8.7 0.8 2.9 3.7 4.7 1.1 0.4 1.7 2.2 3.1 7.9 .392 0.9 2.9 .320 1.6 1.9 .858
Armen Gilliam 80 25.6 8.6 1.7 4.5 6.2 0.7 0.8 0.5 1.3 2.6 3.1 6.5 .471 0.0 0.0 - 2.5 3.2 .768
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper 24 24.5 6.4 0.6 1.8 2.4 2.8 0.8 0.4 0.9 2.4 2.3 5.5 .412 1.0 2.6 .403 0.8 1.1 .741
Armen Gilliam ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Michael Cooper Armen Gilliam
Season 1988-891997-98
Team Los Angeles LakersMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper 80 24.3 7.3 0.4 2.0 2.4 3.9 0.9 0.4 1.2 2.3 2.7 6.2 .431 1.0 2.6 .381 1.0 1.2 .871
Armen Gilliam 82 25.8 11.2 1.8 3.6 5.4 1.3 0.8 0.5 1.8 2.2 4.0 8.2 .484 0.0 0.0 .000 3.3 4.1 .802
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper 15 27.6 7.7 0.6 2.1 2.7 4.7 0.6 0.5 1.1 2.5 2.5 5.9 .416 1.4 3.7 .382 1.3 1.6 .833
Armen Gilliam ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Michael Cooper Armen Gilliam
Season 1989-901998-99
Team Los Angeles LakersMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisBucks Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper 80 23.1 6.4 0.7 2.1 2.8 2.7 0.8 0.5 1.1 2.6 2.4 6.2 .387 0.6 2.0 .318 1.0 1.2 .883
Armen Gilliam 34 19.6 8.3 1.0 2.7 3.7 0.6 0.6 0.4 1.1 1.4 3.0 6.6 .453 0.0 0.0 .000 2.3 3.0 .782
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper 9 19.2 2.6 1.2 1.4 2.7 2.8 0.8 0.4 0.8 2.3 1.1 3.9 .286 0.3 1.3 .250 0.0 0.0 -
Armen Gilliam 3 11.7 5.7 0.0 1.7 1.7 0.3 0.7 0.3 0.3 1.3 2.0 5.0 .400 0.0 0.0 - 1.7 1.7 1.000

Season 13

Michael Cooper Armen Gilliam
Season -1999-00
Team -Utah Jazz
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Jazz Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Armen Gilliam 50 15.6 6.7 1.4 2.7 4.2 0.8 0.2 0.3 1.1 1.7 2.7 6.1 .436 0.0 0.0 .000 1.3 1.7 .779
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Armen Gilliam 10 13.2 3.5 0.6 2.3 2.9 0.4 0.4 0.4 1.1 1.5 1.5 4.6 .326 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 1.3 .385