Michael Cooper vs. Avery Johnson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Avery Johnson 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, 4 less than Avery Johnson, who played 16. Michael Cooper had the first of his seasons in 1978-79, while Avery Johnson had his rookie season in 1988-89. 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
Avery Johnson 16 10 1988-89 to 2003-04

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16

Rookie Season

Michael Cooper Avery Johnson
Season 1978-791988-89
Team Los Angeles LakersSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlaySupersonics 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 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 -
Avery Johnson 43 6.8 1.6 0.3 0.3 0.6 1.7 0.5 0.1 0.4 0.8 0.7 1.9 .349 0.0 0.2 .111 0.2 0.4 .563
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Avery Johnson 6 5.2 1.8 0.3 0.3 0.7 0.8 0.7 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.8 2.0 .417 0.0 0.7 .000 0.2 0.3 .500

Season 2

Michael Cooper Avery Johnson
Season 1979-801989-90
Team Los Angeles LakersSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards
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
Avery Johnson 53 10.8 2.6 0.4 0.4 0.8 3.1 0.5 0.0 0.9 1.0 1.0 2.7 .387 0.0 0.1 .250 0.5 0.8 .725
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
Avery Johnson ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Michael Cooper Avery Johnson
Season 1980-811990-91
Team Los Angeles LakersDenver Nuggets, San Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdSpurs 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 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
Avery Johnson 68 14.1 4.7 0.3 0.8 1.1 3.4 0.7 0.1 1.1 0.9 1.9 4.1 .469 0.0 0.1 .111 0.9 1.3 .678
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
Avery Johnson 3 6.3 0.7 0.0 0.0 0 1.3 0.3 0.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 1.7 .000 0.0 0.3 .000 0.7 0.7 1.000

Season 4

Michael Cooper Avery Johnson
Season 1981-821991-92
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets
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
Avery Johnson 69 17.9 5.6 0.2 1.0 1.2 3.9 0.9 0.1 1.6 1.3 2.3 4.8 .479 0.1 0.2 .267 1.0 1.5 .653
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
Avery Johnson ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Michael Cooper Avery Johnson
Season 1982-831992-93
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsSpurs 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 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
Avery Johnson 75 27.1 8.7 0.3 1.7 1.9 7.5 1.1 0.2 1.9 1.9 3.4 6.8 .502 0.0 0.1 .000 1.9 2.4 .791
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
Avery Johnson 10 31.4 8.2 0.8 2.3 3.1 8.1 1.0 0.1 2.3 2.7 3.6 7.0 .514 0.0 0.1 .000 1.0 1.4 .714

Season 6

Michael Cooper Avery Johnson
Season 1983-841993-94
Team Los Angeles LakersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsWarriors 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 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
Avery Johnson 82 28.4 10.9 0.5 1.6 2.1 5.3 1.4 0.1 2.1 2.0 4.3 8.8 .492 0.0 0.1 .000 2.2 3.1 .704
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
Avery Johnson 3 13.7 6.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 3.3 1.3 0.3 1.0 0.7 3.0 5.7 .529 0.0 0.3 .000 0.0 0.0 -

Season 7

Michael Cooper Avery Johnson
Season 1984-851994-95
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
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
Avery Johnson 82 36.7 13.4 0.6 1.9 2.5 8.2 1.4 0.2 2.5 1.9 5.5 10.5 .519 0.0 0.3 .136 2.5 3.6 .685
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
Avery Johnson 15 38.3 14.5 0.6 1.5 2.1 8.3 1.3 0.4 2.0 1.9 6.1 11.7 .517 0.0 0.1 .000 2.4 3.9 .621

Season 8

Michael Cooper Avery Johnson
Season 1985-861995-96
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsSpurs 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 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
Avery Johnson 82 37.6 13.1 0.5 2.1 2.5 9.6 1.5 0.3 2.4 2.2 5.3 10.8 .494 0.1 0.4 .194 2.3 3.2 .721
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
Avery Johnson 10 40.7 12.3 0.6 3.0 3.6 9.4 2.0 0.1 2.4 2.1 5.2 12.1 .430 0.0 0.2 .000 1.9 2.7 .704

Season 9

Michael Cooper Avery Johnson
Season 1986-871996-97
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Antonio Spurs
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
Avery Johnson 76 32.5 10.5 0.4 1.5 1.9 6.8 1.3 0.2 1.9 2.1 4.3 9.0 .477 0.1 0.3 .231 1.8 2.7 .690
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
Avery Johnson ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Michael Cooper Avery Johnson
Season 1987-881997-98
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSpurs 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 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
Avery Johnson 75 35.7 10.2 0.4 1.6 2.0 7.9 1.1 0.2 2.2 1.9 4.3 8.9 .478 0.0 0.2 .154 1.6 2.2 .726
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
Avery Johnson 9 38.1 17.3 0.3 1.1 1.4 6.1 1.0 0.0 2.3 3.0 6.8 11.2 .604 0.0 0.2 .000 3.8 5.7 .667

Season 11

Michael Cooper Avery Johnson
Season 1988-891998-99
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
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
Avery Johnson 50 33.4 9.7 0.4 1.9 2.4 7.4 1.0 0.2 2.2 2.0 4.4 9.2 .473 0.0 0.2 .083 1.0 1.8 .568
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
Avery Johnson 17 38.5 12.6 0.5 1.9 2.5 7.4 1.2 0.1 2.9 1.8 5.4 11.0 .487 0.1 0.2 .333 1.9 2.8 .681

Season 12

Michael Cooper Avery Johnson
Season 1989-901999-00
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisSpurs 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 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
Avery Johnson 82 31.4 11.2 0.4 1.5 1.9 6.0 0.9 0.2 1.7 1.8 4.9 10.4 .473 0.0 0.1 .111 1.4 1.9 .735
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 -
Avery Johnson 4 36.3 12.0 0.5 1.8 2.3 5.3 1.0 0.0 2.5 2.5 4.8 10.5 .452 0.0 0.0 - 2.5 3.5 .714

Season 13

Michael Cooper Avery Johnson
Season -2000-01
Team -San Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Spurs 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 ------- --- ----------
Avery Johnson 55 23.5 5.6 0.4 1.2 1.5 4.3 0.6 0.1 1.1 1.6 2.4 5.5 .447 0.0 0.1 .167 0.7 1.1 .683
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Avery Johnson 13 21.7 5.8 0.2 1.0 1.2 3.2 0.8 0.1 0.8 1.8 2.6 6.8 .386 0.0 0.1 .000 0.6 1.2 .533

Season 14

Michael Cooper Avery Johnson
Season -2001-02
Team -Denver Nuggets, Dallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Did 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 ------- --- ----------
Avery Johnson 68 19.9 7.9 0.2 0.8 1.0 4.2 0.6 0.1 1.1 1.3 3.0 6.4 .479 0.0 0.1 .000 1.8 2.4 .742
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Avery Johnson ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Michael Cooper Avery Johnson
Season -2002-03
Team -Dallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Did 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 ------- --- ----------
Avery Johnson 48 9.0 3.3 0.2 0.4 0.6 1.3 0.3 0.0 0.6 0.5 1.3 3.1 .420 0.0 0.0 .000 0.6 0.8 .769
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Avery Johnson ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Michael Cooper Avery Johnson
Season -2003-04
Team -Golden State Warriors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Did 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 ------- --- ----------
Avery Johnson 46 13.8 4.6 0.1 0.7 0.7 2.4 0.6 0.1 1.1 0.7 1.7 4.3 .402 0.0 0.1 .000 1.1 1.7 .667
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Avery Johnson ------- --- ----------