Michael Cooper vs. Connie Dierking Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Connie Dierking 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 played 12 years in the NBA, 2 more than Connie Dierking, who played 10. Michael Cooper had the first of his seasons in 1978-79, while Connie Dierking had his rookie season in 1958-59. 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
Connie Dierking 10 5 1958-59 to 1970-71

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Michael Cooper Connie Dierking
Season 1978-791958-59
Team Los Angeles LakersSyracuse Nationals
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNationals Lost East Div Finals
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 -
Connie Dierking 64 11.3 4.6 - - 3.6 0.5 - - - 2.3 1.6 4.5 .362 - - - 1.3 2.2 .593
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Connie Dierking 4 8.5 2.8 - - 4.3 0.5 - - - 1.3 0.5 3.0 .167 - - - 1.8 2.3 .778

Season 2

Michael Cooper Connie Dierking
Season 1979-801959-60
Team Los Angeles LakersSyracuse Nationals
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNationals Lost East Div 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 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
Connie Dierking 71 15.8 6.9 - - 6.4 0.8 - - - 2.4 2.7 7.4 .365 - - - 1.5 2.6 .574
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
Connie Dierking 3 10.7 4.0 - - 5.0 0.3 - - - 2.0 2.0 6.7 .300 - - - 0.0 0.3 .000

Note: Connie Dierking didn't play in 1960-61, 1961-62 and 1962-63.

Season 3

Michael Cooper Connie Dierking
Season 1980-811963-64
Team Los Angeles LakersPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st Rd76ers Lost East Div Semis
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
Connie Dierking 76 16.9 6.5 - - 5.6 0.7 - - - 2.9 2.5 6.8 .372 - - - 1.5 2.2 .675
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
Connie Dierking 5 14.2 6.6 - - 6.0 1.0 - - - 2.0 2.8 6.6 .424 - - - 1.0 1.8 .556

Season 4

Michael Cooper Connie Dierking
Season 1981-821964-65
Team Los Angeles LakersPhiladelphia 76ers, San Francisco Warriors
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
Connie Dierking 68 19.0 7.9 - - 6.4 1.1 - - - 2.4 3.2 7.9 .405 - - - 1.5 2.5 .595
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
Connie Dierking ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Michael Cooper Connie Dierking
Season 1982-831965-66
Team Los Angeles LakersCincinnati Royals
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsRoyals Lost East Div 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
Connie Dierking 57 13.7 5.6 - - 4.3 0.8 - - - 2.0 2.4 5.6 .416 - - - 0.9 1.4 .610
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
Connie Dierking 4 16.0 6.8 - - 3.8 0.3 - - - 2.8 2.3 4.5 .500 - - - 2.3 2.5 .900

Season 6

Michael Cooper Connie Dierking
Season 1983-841966-67
Team Los Angeles LakersCincinnati Royals
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsRoyals Lost East Div 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 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
Connie Dierking 77 24.7 9.3 - - 7.8 2.1 - - - 3.3 3.8 9.5 .399 - - - 1.7 2.3 .744
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
Connie Dierking 4 37.8 17.5 - - 13.0 3.5 - - - 3.3 8.0 18.8 .427 - - - 1.5 1.5 1.000

Season 7

Michael Cooper Connie Dierking
Season 1984-851967-68
Team Los Angeles LakersCincinnati Royals
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 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
Connie Dierking 81 32.6 16.4 - - 9.5 2.4 - - - 3.9 6.7 14.4 .467 - - - 2.9 3.8 .765
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
Connie Dierking ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Michael Cooper Connie Dierking
Season 1985-861968-69
Team Los Angeles LakersCincinnati Royals
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
Connie Dierking 82 31.0 16.3 - - 9.0 2.7 - - - 3.7 6.7 15.0 .443 - - - 3.0 3.9 .762
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
Connie Dierking ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Michael Cooper Connie Dierking
Season 1986-871969-70
Team Los Angeles LakersCincinnati Royals
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
Connie Dierking 76 32.2 16.7 - - 8.2 2.2 - - - 3.6 6.9 16.4 .419 - - - 3.0 4.0 .752
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
Connie Dierking ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Michael Cooper Connie Dierking
Season 1987-881970-71
Team Los Angeles LakersCincinnati Royals, Philadelphia 76ers
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
Connie Dierking 54 13.6 5.8 - - 4.3 1.1 - - - 2.1 2.3 6.0 .388 - - - 1.1 1.6 .685
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
Connie Dierking ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Michael Cooper Connie Dierking
Season 1988-89-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA 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 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
Connie Dierking ------- --- ----------
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
Connie Dierking ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Michael Cooper Connie Dierking
Season 1989-90-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers 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 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
Connie Dierking ------- --- ----------
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 -
Connie Dierking ------- --- ----------