Michael Cooper vs. Artis Gilmore Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Artis Gilmore 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

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 and Artis Gilmore both played 12 years in the NBA. Michael Cooper had the first of his seasons in 1978-79, while Artis Gilmore had his rookie season in 1976-77. 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
Artis Gilmore 12 6 1976-77 to 1987-88

Comparison Season by Season

Rookie Season

Michael Cooper Artis Gilmore
Season 1978-791976-77
Team Los Angeles LakersChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayBulls Lost West 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 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 -
Artis Gilmore 82 35.1 18.6 3.8 9.2 13.0 2.4 0.5 2.5 - 3.2 7.0 13.3 .522 - - - 4.7 7.1 .660
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Artis Gilmore 3 42.0 18.7 5.0 8.0 13.0 2.0 1.0 2.7 - 3.0 6.3 13.3 .475 - - - 6.0 7.7 .783

Season 2

Michael Cooper Artis Gilmore
Season 1979-801977-78
Team Los Angeles LakersChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
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 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
Artis Gilmore 82 37.4 22.9 3.9 9.2 13.1 3.2 0.5 2.2 4.5 3.2 8.6 15.4 .559 - - - 5.7 8.2 .704
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
Artis Gilmore ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Michael Cooper Artis Gilmore
Season 1980-811978-79
Team Los Angeles LakersChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
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
Artis Gilmore 82 39.8 23.7 3.6 9.1 12.7 3.3 0.6 1.9 3.8 3.4 9.2 16.0 .575 - - - 5.3 7.2 .739
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
Artis Gilmore ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Michael Cooper Artis Gilmore
Season 1981-821979-80
Team Los Angeles LakersChicago Bulls
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 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
Artis Gilmore 48 32.7 17.8 2.3 6.8 9.0 2.8 0.6 1.2 2.8 3.5 6.4 10.7 .595 0.0 0.0 - 5.1 7.2 .712
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
Artis Gilmore ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Michael Cooper Artis Gilmore
Season 1982-831980-81
Team Los Angeles LakersChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsBulls 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 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
Artis Gilmore 82 34.5 17.9 2.7 7.4 10.1 2.1 0.6 2.4 2.9 3.6 6.7 10.0 .670 0.0 0.0 - 4.6 6.5 .705
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
Artis Gilmore 6 41.2 18.0 4.0 7.2 11.2 2.0 1.0 2.8 2.8 2.5 5.8 10.0 .583 0.0 0.0 - 6.3 9.2 .691

Season 6

Michael Cooper Artis Gilmore
Season 1983-841981-82
Team Los Angeles LakersChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
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
Artis Gilmore 82 34.1 18.5 2.7 7.5 10.2 1.7 0.6 2.7 2.8 3.5 6.7 10.2 .652 0.0 0.0 1.000 5.2 6.7 .768
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
Artis Gilmore ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Michael Cooper Artis Gilmore
Season 1984-851982-83
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSpurs 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 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
Artis Gilmore 82 34.1 18.0 3.6 8.4 12.0 1.5 0.5 2.3 3.1 3.3 6.8 10.8 .626 0.0 0.1 .000 4.5 6.0 .740
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
Artis Gilmore 11 36.5 16.7 3.4 9.5 12.9 1.6 0.8 3.1 2.5 4.2 6.9 12.0 .576 0.0 0.0 - 2.9 4.2 .696

Season 8

Michael Cooper Artis Gilmore
Season 1985-861983-84
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Antonio Spurs
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
Artis Gilmore 64 31.8 15.3 3.3 7.0 10.3 1.1 0.6 2.1 2.3 3.6 5.5 8.7 .631 0.0 0.0 .000 4.4 6.1 .718
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
Artis Gilmore ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Michael Cooper Artis Gilmore
Season 1986-871984-85
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSpurs Lost West 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 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
Artis Gilmore 81 34.0 19.1 2.9 7.6 10.4 1.6 0.5 2.1 3.0 3.8 6.6 10.5 .623 0.0 0.0 .000 6.0 8.0 .749
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
Artis Gilmore 5 37.0 17.8 2.0 8.0 10.0 1.4 0.4 1.4 4.6 3.6 5.8 10.4 .558 0.0 0.0 - 6.2 9.0 .689

Season 10

Michael Cooper Artis Gilmore
Season 1987-881985-86
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSpurs Lost West 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 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
Artis Gilmore 71 33.7 16.7 2.3 6.1 8.5 1.4 0.5 1.5 2.6 3.4 6.0 9.6 .618 0.0 0.0 .000 4.8 6.8 .701
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
Artis Gilmore 3 35.7 13.3 2.3 3.7 6.0 1.0 2.3 0.3 3.3 3.7 5.3 8.0 .667 0.0 0.0 - 2.7 4.7 .571

Season 11

Michael Cooper Artis Gilmore
Season 1988-891986-87
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Antonio Spurs
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
Artis Gilmore 82 29.3 11.4 2.3 4.8 7.1 1.8 0.5 1.2 2.2 2.9 4.2 7.1 .597 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 4.3 .680
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
Artis Gilmore ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Michael Cooper Artis Gilmore
Season 1989-901987-88
Team Los Angeles LakersChicago Bulls, Boston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisCeltics Lost East 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 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
Artis Gilmore 71 12.6 3.7 1.0 2.0 3.0 0.3 0.2 0.4 0.9 2.1 1.4 2.5 .547 0.0 0.0 - 0.9 1.8 .523
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 -
Artis Gilmore 14 6.1 1.1 0.3 1.1 1.4 0.1 0.0 0.3 0.3 1.0 0.3 0.6 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 1.0 .500