Michael Cooper vs. Gerald Wilkins Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Gerald Wilkins 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 Gerald Wilkins, who played 13. Michael Cooper had the first of his seasons in 1978-79, while Gerald Wilkins had his rookie season in 1985-86. 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
Gerald Wilkins 13 8 1985-86 to 1998-99

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Michael Cooper Gerald Wilkins
Season 1978-791985-86
Team Los Angeles LakersNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards
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 -
Gerald Wilkins 81 25.0 12.5 1.1 1.4 2.6 2.0 0.8 0.1 1.9 1.9 5.4 11.5 .468 0.1 0.3 .280 1.6 2.9 .557
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Gerald Wilkins ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Michael Cooper Gerald Wilkins
Season 1979-801986-87
Team Los Angeles LakersNew York Knicks
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
Gerald Wilkins 80 34.5 19.1 1.5 2.2 3.7 4.4 1.1 0.2 2.7 2.1 7.9 16.3 .486 0.3 0.9 .351 2.9 4.2 .701
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
Gerald Wilkins ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Michael Cooper Gerald Wilkins
Season 1980-811987-88
Team Los Angeles LakersNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdKnicks 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
Gerald Wilkins 81 33.4 17.4 1.3 2.0 3.3 4.0 1.1 0.3 2.6 2.3 7.3 16.3 .446 0.5 1.6 .302 2.4 3.0 .786
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
Gerald Wilkins 4 37.3 20.0 0.3 1.8 2.0 4.8 1.0 0.0 2.8 3.0 8.3 17.3 .478 0.5 1.0 .500 3.0 3.5 .857

Season 4

Michael Cooper Gerald Wilkins
Season 1981-821988-89
Team Los Angeles LakersNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionKnicks 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
Gerald Wilkins 81 29.8 14.3 1.2 1.8 3.0 3.4 1.4 0.3 2.1 2.0 5.7 12.7 .451 0.6 2.1 .297 2.3 3.0 .756
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
Gerald Wilkins 9 32.2 16.1 1.0 2.7 3.7 4.7 1.3 0.3 2.4 3.0 7.0 14.6 .481 0.1 1.1 .100 2.0 2.6 .783

Season 5

Michael Cooper Gerald Wilkins
Season 1982-831989-90
Team Los Angeles LakersNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsKnicks 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
Gerald Wilkins 82 31.8 14.5 1.6 2.9 4.5 4.0 1.2 0.3 2.4 2.3 5.8 12.6 .457 0.5 1.5 .312 2.5 3.2 .803
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
Gerald Wilkins 10 31.9 14.6 1.4 2.2 3.6 5.2 1.4 0.1 1.8 2.3 6.3 13.7 .460 0.2 0.8 .250 1.8 2.2 .818

Season 6

Michael Cooper Gerald Wilkins
Season 1983-841990-91
Team Los Angeles LakersNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsKnicks 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 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
Gerald Wilkins 68 31.8 13.8 1.1 1.9 3.0 4.0 1.2 0.3 2.4 2.7 5.6 11.8 .473 0.1 0.6 .209 2.5 3.0 .820
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
Gerald Wilkins 3 26.0 10.7 0.7 2.0 2.7 1.7 1.7 0.3 2.7 3.7 4.7 12.7 .368 0.7 2.3 .286 0.7 0.7 1.000

Season 7

Michael Cooper Gerald Wilkins
Season 1984-851991-92
Team Los Angeles LakersNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionKnicks 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 26.7 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
Gerald Wilkins 82 28.6 12.4 0.9 1.6 2.5 2.7 0.9 0.2 1.4 2.4 5.3 11.8 .447 0.5 1.3 .352 1.4 1.9 .730
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
Gerald Wilkins 12 28.7 8.9 1.0 1.5 2.5 2.8 0.4 0.1 1.3 2.9 3.8 9.1 .413 0.1 1.1 .077 1.3 1.9 .696

Season 8

Michael Cooper Gerald Wilkins
Season 1985-861992-93
Team Los Angeles LakersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsCavaliers 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 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
Gerald Wilkins 80 26.0 11.1 0.9 1.8 2.7 2.3 1.0 0.2 1.2 1.9 4.5 10.0 .453 0.2 0.7 .276 1.9 2.3 .840
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
Gerald Wilkins 9 26.2 10.3 0.7 1.1 1.8 2.7 1.0 0.2 1.2 1.8 4.2 9.7 .437 0.4 1.3 .333 1.4 1.9 .765

Season 9

Michael Cooper Gerald Wilkins
Season 1986-871993-94
Team Los Angeles LakersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCavaliers 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 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
Gerald Wilkins 82 33.8 14.3 1.3 2.4 3.7 3.1 1.3 0.5 1.6 2.3 5.4 11.9 .457 1.0 2.6 .396 2.4 3.0 .776
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
Gerald Wilkins 3 42.0 20.3 1.0 3.3 4.3 3.3 1.0 0.0 1.0 2.0 6.7 15.0 .444 2.3 5.3 .438 4.7 5.3 .875

Note: Gerald Wilkins didn't play in 1994-95.

Season 10

Michael Cooper Gerald Wilkins
Season 1987-881995-96
Team Los Angeles LakersVancouver Grizzlies
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
Gerald Wilkins 28 26.4 6.7 0.8 1.5 2.3 2.4 0.8 0.1 1.3 2.0 2.8 7.3 .376 0.5 2.3 .219 0.7 0.8 .870
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
Gerald Wilkins ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Michael Cooper Gerald Wilkins
Season 1988-891996-97
Team Los Angeles LakersOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsMagic 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 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
Gerald Wilkins 80 27.5 10.6 0.7 1.4 2.2 2.2 0.7 0.2 1.5 1.8 4.0 9.5 .426 0.8 2.5 .325 1.7 2.4 .716
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
Gerald Wilkins 5 28.6 9.4 0.6 1.2 1.8 0.8 0.0 0.4 0.6 1.4 3.2 9.0 .356 0.6 1.8 .333 2.4 2.8 .857

Season 12

Michael Cooper Gerald Wilkins
Season 1989-901997-98
Team Los Angeles LakersOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisDid 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 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
Gerald Wilkins 72 17.4 5.3 0.2 1.0 1.3 1.1 0.5 0.1 1.1 1.1 2.0 6.0 .325 0.4 1.5 .266 1.0 1.4 .704
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 -
Gerald Wilkins ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Michael Cooper Gerald Wilkins
Season -1998-99
Team -Orlando Magic
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 ------- --- ----------
Gerald Wilkins 3 9.3 0.7 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 3.0 .000 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 0.7 1.000
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Gerald Wilkins ------- --- ----------