Michael Cooper vs. Desmond Mason Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Desmond Mason 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 Desmond Mason, who played 10. Michael Cooper had the first of his seasons in 1978-79, while Desmond Mason had his rookie season in 2000-01. 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
Desmond Mason 10 3 2000-01 to 2009-10

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Michael Cooper Desmond Mason
Season 1978-792000-01
Team Los Angeles LakersSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie Second 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 -
Desmond Mason 78 19.5 5.9 0.9 2.3 3.2 0.8 0.5 0.3 0.7 1.9 2.4 5.6 .431 0.2 0.9 .269 0.9 1.2 .736
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Desmond Mason ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Michael Cooper Desmond Mason
Season 1979-802001-02
Team Los Angeles LakersSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSupersonics 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 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
Desmond Mason 75 32.3 12.4 1.2 3.5 4.7 1.4 0.9 0.4 1.4 2.3 4.8 10.3 .464 0.2 0.8 .271 2.7 3.2 .848
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
Desmond Mason 5 41.0 11.8 1.0 5.2 6.2 1.8 0.8 0.4 1.0 2.2 4.8 11.4 .421 0.2 0.6 .333 2.0 3.4 .588

Season 3

Michael Cooper Desmond Mason
Season 1980-812002-03
Team Los Angeles LakersSeattle Supersonics, Milwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdBucks 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 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
Desmond Mason 80 34.5 14.3 1.9 4.6 6.5 2.0 0.8 0.4 1.4 2.6 5.7 12.7 .449 0.3 0.9 .292 2.7 3.5 .749
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
Desmond Mason 6 34.0 13.0 1.0 6.0 7.0 0.8 1.0 0.7 1.2 3.2 4.7 9.2 .509 0.0 0.7 .000 3.7 5.2 .710

Season 4

Michael Cooper Desmond Mason
Season 1981-822003-04
Team Los Angeles LakersMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionBucks 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 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
Desmond Mason 82 30.9 14.4 1.1 3.2 4.4 1.9 0.7 0.3 1.8 2.3 5.0 10.6 .472 0.1 0.5 .231 4.3 5.6 .769
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
Desmond Mason 5 39.6 14.4 0.8 4.0 4.8 2.4 0.8 0.4 2.4 3.2 5.0 14.8 .338 0.0 0.4 .000 4.4 5.2 .846

Season 5

Michael Cooper Desmond Mason
Season 1982-832004-05
Team Los Angeles LakersMilwaukee Bucks
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
Desmond Mason 80 36.2 17.2 1.1 2.8 3.9 2.7 0.7 0.3 2.1 2.5 6.0 13.5 .443 0.0 0.1 .125 5.3 6.6 .802
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
Desmond Mason ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Michael Cooper Desmond Mason
Season 1983-842005-06
Team Los Angeles LakersNew Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets
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
Desmond Mason 70 30.0 10.8 0.9 3.3 4.3 0.9 0.6 0.2 1.6 1.9 3.9 9.9 .399 0.0 0.1 .167 2.9 4.3 .682
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
Desmond Mason ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Michael Cooper Desmond Mason
Season 1984-852006-07
Team Los Angeles LakersNew Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets
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
Desmond Mason 75 34.3 13.7 1.7 2.9 4.6 1.5 0.7 0.3 2.6 2.3 5.4 12.0 .452 0.0 0.0 - 2.9 4.3 .663
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
Desmond Mason ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Michael Cooper Desmond Mason
Season 1985-862007-08
Team Los Angeles LakersMilwaukee Bucks
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
Desmond Mason 59 28.8 9.7 1.3 3.1 4.3 2.1 0.7 0.5 1.4 1.8 3.9 8.1 .482 0.0 0.0 - 1.9 2.9 .659
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
Desmond Mason ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Michael Cooper Desmond Mason
Season 1986-872008-09
Team Los Angeles LakersOklahoma City Thunder
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
Desmond Mason 39 27.3 7.5 1.1 3.0 4.0 1.2 0.4 0.8 1.4 2.5 3.2 7.3 .435 0.0 0.1 .000 1.2 2.2 .541
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
Desmond Mason ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Michael Cooper Desmond Mason
Season 1987-882009-10
Team Los Angeles LakersSacramento Kings
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
Desmond Mason 5 13.2 2.6 0.8 1.8 2.6 0.4 0.2 0.2 0.8 1.0 1.0 2.4 .417 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 0.8 .750
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
Desmond Mason ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Michael Cooper Desmond Mason
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
Desmond Mason ------- --- ----------
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
Desmond Mason ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Michael Cooper Desmond Mason
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
Desmond Mason ------- --- ----------
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 -
Desmond Mason ------- --- ----------